- Chandio says Farooq Sattar keeping ‘old school of thought’ alive
KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has said that the formation of new political parties and alliances in the province will make no difference to the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) which, according to him, was a deep-rooted political force of the country.
Talking to media at Expo Centre where he inaugurated the Trade Exhibition-2017 `Emerging Pakistan’ along with Sindh Governor Muhammad Zubair, Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Khursheed Shah and Federal Commerce Minister Muhammad Pervaiz Malik, the chief minister said he could not understand what they [Farooq Sattar and Mustafa Kamal] wanted to say.
“They merged both the parties without giving any name to the new party…I don’t know how I could address their party now since they have not come up with a new name,” CM Murad went on to say, posing a question through a song, “kis nam se pukaron/kiya nam hai tumhara”.
To a query, the chief minister said that the merger of political factions, parties and alliances had nothing to do with the PPP. “PPP has deep roots among the masses and it is a leading secular and federal party which knows how to steer the country out of fanaticism,” he added.
Murad also commented that the predictions of provincial minister Manzoor Wassan had come true. The chief minister said that the PPP believed in democracy, adding that everyone had the right to form alliances, new political parties and work openly.
“We are not against anybody or party but yes, we oppose those who are against democracy and the federation,” he went on to add.
To a question about return of General (r) Musharraf and taking over both the parties MQM and PSP, the chief minister said that he was absconding and running from pillar to post abroad.
Earlier, the chief minister inaugurated the Expo 2017 and visited stalls set up there.
Meanwhile, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Moula Bakhsh Chandio accused MQM-P chief Farooq Sattar of keeping his ‘old school of thought’ alive.
“Sattar hasn’t retired his old school of thought, and remains on the same old path, which is not good for Sindh’s unity” Chandio claimed during a press conference. “His [Sattar’s] body language showed visible signs of discomfort.”
The MQM-P and Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP), on Wednesday, formally announced regrouping with “one name, one symbol and one manifesto”, a year after the two political factions announced complete disassociation from their former leadership based in London.
The PPP leader also remarked that PSP Chairman Mustafa Kamal’s statements were ‘considerably political.’
“We never created an alliance with MQM-P, not even during elections,” he said, adding that he doesn’t see his party coming to terms with MQM in the future. Taking a jibe at the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif, Chandio claimed that the PML-N leader ‘wants a clash’ but he will not succeed in his mission.
“We are neither friends with Nawaz, nor have any sympathy with him,” he commented, “we only support democracy.”
Discussing rumours about the possibility of a delay in the general elections that are to be held in 2018, Chandio said that all political parties want elections to be held on time and any delay in the elections won’t reap good results.