The ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP) held a huge public gathering in support of much criticized Sindh Peoples Local Government Ordinance (SPLGO), saying that it would not let Sindh division.
The gathering was addressed by former PM Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Moula Bakhsh Chandio, Sharjeel Memon, Agha Siraj Durrani, Nisar Khoro and other PPP leaders.
Former Prime Minister and PPP Senior Vice-Chairman‚ Yousuf Raza Gilani appealed to nationalist leaders to come to the negotiating table and assemblies to express their views. “You cannot change people’s opinions at gunpoint.”
He said philosophy of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto cannot be eliminated and it is remained alive in the hearts of the people.
He was addressing a public meeting of Pakistan Peoples Party in Hyderabad on Monday. The gathering has been organized in support of the new local government system in Sindh.
Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said those who think of division of Sindh in presence of PPP are living in fool's paradise. He said the PPP is a party of federation and have roots in all the province‚ Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan.
He said, “We gave jobs to lakhs of people and reinstated a number of employees terminated by previous governments.”
He said PPP under the leadership of President Asif Ali Zardari strengthened the federation by giving provincial autonomy. He said the government has restored the 1973 constitution in its original shape.
He said the PPP government has given a big Benazir Income Support Programme for financial help of the poor segment of the society. He said, “We are democracy loving people and want no other system.”
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah in his speech said Sindh Peoples Local Government Ordinance will help to resolve the problems of the people.
He said PPP served the poor and Haris. He said nationalists have no programme for the welfare of the poor. He said Nawaz Sharif returned from Sindh disappointed as he failed to gather support in the province.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zamar Kaira said winning of by-elections and winning elections in Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan is demonstrative that the PPP has adopted right policies which have the support of the people. He said no power can separate PPP from public.
He said we are running the government successfully with one hundred and twenty-seven members in the National Assembly. He highlighted achievements of the government during the last four and a half years.
He said we gave provincial autonomy. He said it will strengthen Pakistan. He said we gave NFC Award and restore 1973 constitution in its original shape. He said when we took over‚ there was shortage of wheat and due to government's prudent policies‚ now the country has surplus thirty lakh tons of wheat.
He said the government is committed to root out terrorism from the country. He said the terrorists are now squeezing.
Commerce Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim paid tribute to the brave and courageous leadership of President Asif Ali Zardari.
Speaker Sindh Assembly Nisar Ahmad Khuhro said Nationalists are jealous of PPP popularity. He said Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto sacrificed their lives for the country and rights of the people. He we are not afraid of giving sacrifices. He said we are committed for the development of the province.
PPP leader Agha Siraj Durrani said those who are opposing the Sindh Peoples Local Government Ordinance‚ have not studied it. He said Sindh province was empowered to formulate its own local government system. He said Nawaz Sharif is misleading the Sindh people. He described Syed Ghaus Ali Shah as money changer of Nawaz Sharif.
Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon said political orphans have gathered to achieve their objectives. He said political orphans always propagated against PPP. He said Sindh will not be handed over to extortionists. He said we are followers of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto.
PPP leader Maula Bux Chandio said today's big gathering is demonstrative of popularity of PPP. He said PPP is the party of Shaheeds and Shaheeds never die. He said no one can divide the Sindh province. Other PPP leaders also addressed the public meeting.
At the outset of the meeting‚ dua was offered for Shaheed leaders of PPP Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto‚ Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and Shaheed PPP workers.
The public meeting through a resolution completely supported the Sindh Peoples Local Government Ordinance. The resolution paid tribute to the sagacity and political wisdom of the President Asif Ali Zardari. It said the PPP is guarantor of the rights of the people.
Through another resolution‚ the public meeting reposed full confidence in the leadership of President Asif Ali Zardari and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and steps taken by them for the development of the province.
The resolution condemns attacks on residences of Ministers and PPP Parliamentarians in Sindh‚ terming them acts of terrorism. In yet another resolution‚ the public meeting strongly condemned the attack on Malala Yousafzai