DADU: Sindh United Party (SUP) led by Syed Jalal Mahmood Shah, the grandson of GM Syed, observed 25th death anniversary of the veteran Sindhi nationalist leader without holding the traditional public meeting in line with the strict observance of social distancing and lockdown on account of Covid-19 preventive measures.

Shah along with a few senior SUP leaders laid floral wreath on the grave of Syed in Sann town and offered fateha for the departed soul. Handshaking and hugging were avoided as per the standard operating procedures (SOPs) prescribed by the federal and provincial governments.

The SUP had about a week back announced that the anniversary programme would be restricted to a simple ceremony.

Similarly, various Sindhi nationalist groups following the political ideology of GM Syed also avoided big gatherings contrary to their own anniversary programmes traditionally held on the occasion separately under the tents pitched around the grave in Sann.

Similar small gatherings were organised by the SUP and the nationalist groups in other towns — Dadu, Bhan Syedabad, Mehar, Khairpur Nathan Shah, Johi etc — in Dadu, Jamshoro and some other districts of the province.

Jalal Shah accuses Sindh govt of plundering relief funds, obliging PPP people alone

Office-bearers of Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) led by its founder-leader Bashir Qureshi’s son Sanan Qureshi, JSQM-Arisar faction led by Aslam Khairpuri, Jeay Sindh Mahaz-Riaz (JSM-R) led by Riaz Chandio, JSM-Junejo faction led by Abdul Khaliq Junejo, Jeay Sindh-Tehreek (JST) led by Shafi Karnani, JST-Sarki faction led by Safdar Sarki, Jeay Sindh Qaum-parasat Party (JSQP) and some activists of the banned outfit Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz visited the grave in groups one after the other to lay wreaths and offer fateha on Saturday.

After paying their respects to the veteran leader, the SUP office-bearers spoke to local reporters at the ceremony.

Jalal Mehmood Shah briefly explained his grandfather GM Syed’s philosophy, political ideology and the contribution he had made in his entire life for the socio-economic uplift of Sindh and Sindhis. He said the new generation must follow the veteran leader’s ideology to counter the exploitative policies let loose on the masses in the country by the ruling elite over more than seven decades. The SUP leaders reaffirmed their resolve to carry forward the mission of Syed.

Sindh govt accused of gross irregularities

Jalal Shah also expressed his party’s strong reservations over the Sindh government’s handling of the situation arising out of coronavirus outbreak in the province.

He accused the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leaders and activists of indulging in massive corruption in the distribution of ration and other relief goods with the results that most of the deserving families remained without any relief.

Contesting PPP leaders’ claim of having ensured transparency in utilising relief funds, Shah said the ‘jiyala culture’ reigned supreme as always in this loot and plunder.

“The jiyalas have been taking away bulk of ration bags and providing the same to their near and dears as well as party colleagues alone,” he alleged, and condemned that the poor masses were left to face starvation. He noted that the prolonged lockdown had already rendered millions of workers, including daily wage earners, without a livelihood and earning.

Regarding alleged corruption at the level of government and bureaucracy, the SUP chief alleged that an amount of Rs6,000 was being drawn from the relief fund for a single bag of ration containing commodities worth a few hundred rupees. The commodities also appeared to be of poor standard, he added.

He said revenue officials had been taken into confidence in this racket by PPP leaders and activists at district, taluka and UC levels.

Shah regretted that corruption was resorted to even in the distribution of masks, soaps and sanitisers in this critical phase the nation was undergoing. He noted that those at the helm of affairs seemed to be interested in personal projection and party’s publicity.

“If the provincial government is really sincere in providing relief to deserving families, why it doesn’t disburse the Rs6,000 amount in cash to each of the enlisted ones like the federal government is doing under the Ehsaas programme?” he asked. He suggested that if the provincial government lacked adequate funds to provide cash relief to such a huge number of families, it could reduce the Rs6,000 amount by half. At least the poor would be able to get some relief, he argued.

The SUP chief also observed that the provincial government did not increase its hospitals’ capacity to handle coronavirus cases and ensure better treatment facilities. Instead, it was found interested in establishing isolation centres. So far, he claimed, it could not get even 5,000 people tested against coronavirus.

Other SUP leaders accompanying Shah included Syed Zain Ali Shah, Roshan Ali Buriro, Amir Ali Thebo and Mukhtiar Memon.

Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2020