Sir: The PPP is running its election campaign in eccentric style by using the Sindh card, martyrdom, provincialism and such other tactics to strike a dent in the popularity of its strong rival, the PML-N. Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, in the Charter of Democracy (CoD), conceded their past mistakes and resolved not to repeat them. The PML-N leadership stands by its word but the PPP has reverted to its 1990s propaganda tactics. Advertisements show Shahbaz Sharif and Saifur Rehman discussing a case with Justice Malik Qayum. If the PML-N and Malik Qayum were such bad news then why did Zardari form a government with the PML-N and why did he appoint Malik Qayum as a law officer? Another advertisement depicts images of the deluge of 2010 in Punjab with the poor people suffering and background voice holding the Punjab government responsible for letting the flood waters loose upon the poor people. This is a white lie. The flood came into Punjab suddenly and with full force; the Punjab government had neither the time nor capacity to divert the mighty water. On the other hand, the 2010 flood entered Sindh after almost a month; elected waderas (landlords) from the PPP ate away the funds and deliberately diverted water towards the crops, homes and hearths of hapless peasants in Sindh to save their own crops, factories and palaces. The PPP people taunt the PML-N head by saying that he ran away from the country and so he is a coward. Why does the PPP forget that Benazir Bhutto also left the country after coming to an understanding with the rulers of the time?
The PPP campaigners say that Nawaz Sharif, being Punjabi, will harm Sindh. The fact is that without cooperation from the PML-N neither Sindh would have gained provincial autonomy nor have benefited from its increased share in the NFC. This is in contrast to the PPP government passing the controversial local government ordinance, which allegedly would hand over the resources and power of the major cities to the MQM. The PPP sold the islands of Sindh, which even ‘mighty’ Musharraf could not. Another gift from the PPP is the Zulfikarabad scheme. According to renowned writer and researcher Naseer Memon, with the arrival of millions of non-Sindhi settlers in Zulfikarabad, the indigenous people of Sindh will be converted into a minority overnight. In Dadu district, the PPP candidates were invited and then welcomed with eggs, tomatoes and cow dung. Previously, Dadu and Johi tehsil were made no go areas for Liaqat Jatoi by the PPP’s jiyalas but this time we see the opposite. The PML-N candidate Liaqat Jatoi is being showered with rose petals and thousands of people, including a large number of disgruntled PPP workers, throng his public meetings and rallies.
GULSHER PANHWER
Johi