Naimat Khan
SEHWAN: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that PML-N has a long history of amenity with Sindh, the PML-N prime Minister Nawaz Sharif right from taking over as prime minister to his ouster never stayed in Sindh to solve the problems of people of Sindh.
This he said while addressing 11thdeath anniversary of his father, former Sindh chief minister Syed Abdullah Shah observed here at his native village, Wahur Murad Ali Shah of taluka Sehwan. Those who attended the death anniversary include former chief minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, speaker Sindh Assembly Agha Siraj Durani, provincial ministers Nisar Khuhro, Manzoor Wassan, Sohail Anwar Siyal, Jam Khan Shoro, Syed Nasir Shah, Mukesh Kumar Chawla, Taimore Talpur, Saeed Ghani, MPAs Murad Ali Shah, Dr Bahadur Dahri and others.
He said that PML-N leader, Nawaz Sharif had never given importance to Sindh and its people in resolving their problems. “It was only lip service he used to make, otherwise his contribution to resolve the problems of people of Sindh is zero,” he said and added during his tenure as prime minister [Nawaz Sharif} worst load-shedding was started in Sindh, he never gave due share to the people of Sindh in NFC, he did not release funds he had committed under National Action Plan (NAP) and even made at source deduction from the funds of Sindh.
Talking about Shahbaz Sharif’s visit to Karachi, Sindh chief minister Murad Ali Shah said that like seasonal frog he {shahbaz Sharif} has come out here because general elections are approaching. “After disqualification of his brother he [Shahbaz] has taken over a President of his party and has realized that Sindh is an important province where a large number of voters are living,” he said and added but “your visit would bear no fruit because people of Sindh know you very-well that your visit and your promise are like bubble of hot water,” he said.
Murad Ali Shah said that people of Sindh were, are and would always be supporting with PPP because “it is the PPP which right from its founder Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto to Quaid Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and from Shaheed Benazir Bhutto to Asif Ali Zardari has been serving people of Sindh but rather to say to the people of whole Pakistan without any discrimination.
It was Shaheed Z.A Bhutto who gave identification to the people Pakistan all over the world, he sent manpower abroad, particularly to Middle East and Europe and gave strong constitution of 1973 He made the defence of this country much strong by launching nuclear programme. He added that it was Shaheed Benazir Bhutto who gave launched missile programme, empowered women, launched energy programme but her successors plunged the country into darkness. Talking about PPPP President Asif Zaradri, Murad Ali Shah said he gave 18thamendment and a first ever multi-criterion NFC award. “Now, it is the turn of Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari who would make the country stronger in terms of its economy, defence and federating units.
He said that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif would have not seen such days of his `total political destruction’ had he been believed in parliament.
Paying rich tribute to his father Syed Abdullah Shah, the former chief minister of Sindh, he said that he was a loving and caring father who gave good education to his children. He used to pick him, his brother and sisters from school himself. As a chief minister, the services of Syed Abdullah Shah would always be remembered.
President PPP Sindh Nisar Khuhro said that Syed Abdullah Shah was a brave and courageous son of Sindh. He also appreciated Sindh Chief Minister Syed Abdullah Shah who is always observing death anniversary of his father. “This is the best way to remember our brave leaders who laid their lives but did not bow down before the dictators,” he said.
Nisar said that Abdullah Shah had the honour to be worker of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto. Abdullah Shah being a chief minister used to sit on the dirt-floor with the poor villagers. He had great love for Sindh and its people.
Speaker Sindh assembly Agha Siraj Durani addressing the gathering said that he has worked as a cabinet minister in the cabinet of Syed Abdullah Shah. He had the quality to meet people of Sindh at their door steps by visiting their district to district and village to village.
He was a brave person and had courage to deal the enemies of Sindh with iron hand.
He warned the enemies of Sindh to stop conspiracies against Sindh- you [enemies of Sindh and federation] of constructing Kalabagh Dam, rolling back 18thamendment. “People of Sindh know how to protect Sindh and the federation- we the people of Sindh and Pakistan proved to be strong enough by electing Mohterma Benazir Bhutto, the first woman prime minister of Pakistan and now “we would elect Bilawal Bhutto as prime minister of Pakistan,” he said.
Provincial Minister Manzoor Wassan said that he foresee Nawaz Sharif packing up for escaping from the country. “Time has come and I am sure by the end of this month or next month you [Nawaz Sharif] under the pretext of performing Umera you would leave the country for good,” he said.
MNA Malik Asad Sikandar said that Abdullah Shah took over as chief minister when Karachi was burning. “The city was made hostage by terrorists and in his fight against terrorists he lost his brother [his borther Syed Ahsan Shah was killed by terrorist] but did not let the people of Karachi to be hostage at the hands of out laws,” he said and added time has proved that they were terrorists and enemies of the country.
Those who spoke on the occasion include ex-MPA Asif Shah, MPA Ukrani, Senator Aajiz Dhamrah.
Syed Abdullah Shah was elected as speaker of Sindh assembly when PPP under the courageous leadership of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto from Dec 1988 to Aug 1990. and Sindh chief minister from Oct 21, 1993 to Nov 6, 1996. It was the second tenure of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto as prime minister of Pakistan. Syed Abdullah Shah is considered to be most effective and courageous rulers of Sindh. He died on April 14, 2007.
Earlier, the chief minister just after landing at Sehwan airport went to his ancestral graveyard and offered dua at the mazar of his parents and laid floral chadar on their graves.
In the morning Quran Khwani was held at the residence of late Syed Abdullah Shah and food was distributed among the participants. The food was being served from morning to the end of programme.