The Save Sindh Action Committee (SSAC) on Friday alleged that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) are trying to incite violence so that there is bloodshed during its peaceful strike on Saturday (today) and in this case, the government should be held responsible.
Addressing a press conference at the Haider Manzil, SSAC leaders Jalal Muhammad Shah, Bashir Qureshi, Dr Safdar Sarki and Zamir Ghumro said that the government, with the MQM’s support, is planning on how to make the peaceful general strike unsuccessful.
“They [PPP and MQM] want to make this strike a violent one. Their armed men are threatening shopkeepers that if they open [their businesses] tomorrow, they will face the consequences,” they claimed.
“We are peaceful people and against any violence and if anything bad happens, the government will be responsible.
“It is shameful that the PPP wants to create war among Sindhi people and wants bloodshed in the province. We will not compromise on the unity of Sindh and will not accept any amendment in the local bodies system. We want the restoration of Karachi and Hyderabad to their old [administrative] limits.”
Meanwhile, the Awami National Party (ANP) Sindh chapter spokesman appealed that the people of Sindh should support the call for peaceful strike. “The people must record their protest for unity and rights for the people of Sindh. The elected representatives of Sindh must take up this issue in the Sindh Assembly,” he said.
Separately, Awami Tehreek President Ayaz Latif Palijo supported the SSAC’s strike and said that if the government wants to arrest nationalists, they are ready for it.
The Balochistan National Party (BNP) Awami Party also announced its support for the strike. Addressing a press conference, BNP Awami leaders Bahram Khan, Sadiq Tajir and Anwer Ghichkori said that the Sindhi people have been exploited for a long time but the very existence of Sindh is on the line now.
“The Baloch will not leave the Sindhi people alone at this stage,” they added.
Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) chief Pir Pagara while talking to the media at the Kingri House said that if the MQM does not review its stance on the local government system issue, there will be bloodshed. “The MQM and its supporters will be the losers in that case,” he said.
“The PML-F will not support the revival of the local government system of 2001 in the province and rolling back of the commissionerate system,” he added.
The reports emanating from Sindh reveal that the strike called by Save Sindh Action Committee has been hundred percent successful. Interestingly Karachi remained totally shut. It was unfortunate that there was loss of lives last night and was allegedly perpetrated by MQM thugs. The government of Asif Zardari should reflect upon his arm twisting policies as far as Sindhis are concerned and should revert his unpopular decisions taken by him to appease a party which is widely perceived as an ethnic, liguist and fascist party. Today's strike should be a wake up call for all the leaders including legislators who have been voted by Sindhis.
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