SUKKUR: Sindh Minister for Information Syed Nasir Hussain Shah has said that Muttahida Qaumi Movement has turned into ‘Muntashir Qaumi Movement’ and the party is fast losing chances of winning even one Senate seat because of the raging internal conflict.

The minister told journalists after addressing a condolence reference for human rights champion Asma Jahangir organised by Sukkur Union of Journalists at the local press club on Wednesday that MQM’s disarray would surely benefit PPP in upcoming general election.

He said that this judiciary was free but Nawaz Sharif still thought it was the same old judiciary, some of whose judges used to favour him out of the way.

Mr Sharif’s remarks against judges had created confrontation among institutions, he said.

He praised proactive policy of Chief Justice of Pakistan and especially his visits to various institutions to improve their performance.

About Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s criticism of the judiciary, Mr Shah said that Mr Abbasi was a ‘puppet’ prime minister and everybody knew who was actually pulling the strings to rule the country.

He said that in the days to come, Mr Abbasi might make more talk than Mr Sharif who had awarded important ministries to those who competed with each other outside courts in hurling allegations and abuses at courts and judges.

The minister said that he saw no chance of Imran Khan becoming prime minister after upcoming general election though he was lucky in contracting marriages.

He might not even be able to retain government in Khyber Pakhtun­khwa, he said.

He said the PPP had no fear of the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) as the party had always fought and defeated big alliances.

Only a handful of leaders in GDA could clinch one or two seats on the basis of their personal clout but the alliance on the whole could not give a tough fight to the PPP, he said.

Mr Shah said that PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari would inaugurate 200-bed NICVD hospital in Sukkur on Feb 24 where cardiac patients would get free of cost medical treatment.

He said that NICVD’s budget was Rs700 million when it was functioning under the federal government and the Sindh government had increased it to Rs7 billion.

Earlier, the minister said at the condolence reference that Asma Jahangir was an icon of human rights, truth and principles.

Late Asma used to criticise different parties, including PPP, and took stance on the basis of principles.

Published in Dawn, February 22nd, 2018