KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah lauded Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman for acting as bridge on matter of proposed constitutional amendment.

Speaking to media at Karsaz (site where as many as 170 people were killed upon return of former premier Benazir Bhutto’s from self-imposed exile on October 18, 2007), Murad Ali Shah recounted ‘Charter of Democracy’ by saying that establishment of constitutional courts was an unfinished part of it which needed to be done now.

He said PPP was ready to sit down with everyone on matter of constitutional amendment while lauding Maulana for his stance. Recalling Karsaz incident, he said that 17 years ago, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto landed at Karachi Airport after ending her exile.

“Countless people across Pakistan gathered to receive their beloved leader,” he said. He added that due to presence of sea of people on road, convoy of Shaheed Mohterma Benazir Bhutto took 10 hours to reach Karsaz, where it met an explosion.

Though hundreds of party workers were killed in blast, even then, large number of party workers gathered around Shaheed Benazir Bhutto to protect her, he said and termed it extent of love and respect of people for their leader.

Talking about Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto’s courage, he said that following morning after incident (October 19, 2007), which claimed 180 lives, she visited injured workers at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre and then went to Lyari to offer condolence to families of slain party workers.

He said that 180 workers were killed and with their blood and sacrifice of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, democracy returned to this country. To question, Murad Shah said that killers of our workers at Karsaz and of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto could not be traced because crime scene was washed to hinder any thorough investigation.

He categorically stated that stance taken by Pakistan Peoples’ Party-led government on incident of Dr Shahnawaz Kumbhar has never been witnessed before in this country; “even then Section 144 was violated by those who call themselves ‘rawadar’ or tolerant to protest incident.”

To question, he said that Sindh government, taking clear stand disclosed initial report of Dr Shahnawaz incident. “We included names of senior police officers in FIR and removed them from their postings and brought them under investigation, even though some people, instead of appreciating government and its efforts, are playing their politics,” he said.

He revealed that Section 144 was imposed against protests and demonstrations on day Rawadri March was scheduled as religious party had given call to counter protest.

“We would not allow anybody or mob to take law into their own hands,” he said. We have an established investigation system and judiciary to decide veracity of allegation,” he said.

He said that through media, had sincerely offered his apology to participants of Rawadari March for what they went through. He added that despite having violated Section 144, he has ordered an impartial inquiry into incident. “I talked to organisers of Rawadari March and in return, they started responding to government through media which was indecent and unreasonable.”

Talking about constitutional amendment, he said that Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto is trying to develop Conesus on each and every proposed clause.

Published in The Daily National Courier, October, 19 2024

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