By staging a “successful” strike across Sindh, the people of the province have taken back the mandate from the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), the Save Sindh Action Committee said on Saturday.
Addressing a press conference at the Haider Manzil, the committee congratulated people, religious and political parties and the civil society for their cooperation, but it also expressed grief over the death of two activists and injuries of several others as a result of attacks carried out on the peaceful rallies.
They held Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah responsible for the violence. The committee announced that murder cases would be registered in courts against the chief minister. They also announced organising a national solidarity conference on August 21.
Addressing the press conference, Jalal Muhammad Shah said that the successful strike was a referendum against the rulers who want to divide Sindh.
“The government and a terrorist group tried to turn the peaceful strike violent. Peaceful rallies were attacked in Karachi and Hyderabad. Two activists Dilshad Abro and Arbab Kambrani died due to firing,” he added.
Shah said that a May 12-like situation was created in Karachi and Hyderabad where terrorists attacked the peaceful rallies under the shelter of police and Rangers. He said that this would create a new situation which would be harmful for everyone.
“The PPP wants to bring about a civil war in Sindh. We consider the chief minister to be responsible for the killings and injuries of political parties’ activists. We shall approach the courts in this regard,” he added.
He announced that the peaceful democratic struggle would continue and a national solidarity conference would be convened on August 21 in Karachi.
On the occasion, Dr Safdar Sarki said that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) was involved in incidents of firing on the peaceful rallies in Karachi and Hyderabad. He said that firing was carried out from the sector and unit offices of the MQM.
“At least 15 activists were injured due to firing, whereas 22 have been arrested. Now the ball is in the court of the government,” he added. Awami National Party (ANP) Sindh President Shahi Syed congratulated the people of the province for making the strike a success. He said that the ANP would continue to work for safeguarding the interests of Sindh.
RAZZAK ABRO ADDS: Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz Chairman Bashir Khan Qureshi advised the MQM to learn a lesson from the successful strike held across Karachi and to keep the party away from anti-Sindh policies of the PPP in the larger interest of the province.
Talking to a group of journalists at his residence, Qureshi said that complete participation of the Urdu-speaking community in the strike and closure of MQM-dominated areas proves that the Urdu-speaking people do not support the division of Sindh. He termed the Urdu speaking community as ‘Urdu-speaking Sindhis’ and said that the unity of both Urdu- and Sindhi-speaking people is necessary for their collective interests.
At the same time, he warned that if the MQM does not understand the message jointly given by both Urdu and Sindhi speaking communities, it would suffer a political loss.