Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Saturday said that there ws no better choice for the President slot than PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari.
Speaking to media before the submission of Zardari’s nomination papers before Chief Justice of Sindh High Court Justice Aqeel Ahmad Abbasi, officially confirmed Zardari as presidential candidate.
He said Pakistan People’s Party will request all parties including MQM-Pakistan to vote for Asif Ali Zardari in the Presidential election.
He said that the party has requested MQM-P members to vote for PPP’s candidates for the election of speaker and deputy Speaker election.
Replying to a question regarding MQM’s demand for amendment in Local Government Act, Shah said that in Sindh, Local Bodies were already powerful, MQM might have demanded local government powers for Punjab.
He said that PPP will approach legal forums for its grievances regarding polls.
Murad expressed confidence that PPP Co-Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari would secure majority votes for his second term as president.
Murad was accompanied by PPP leader Faryal Talpur, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Speaker Sindh Assembly Awais Qadir Shah, Nisar Khuhro, Agha Siraj Durrani, Syed Nasir Shah, Sharjeel Memon, Saeed Ghani, Imtiaz Shaikh, Sardar Shah, Sohail Siyal, Deputy Speaker Anthony Naveed, and others.
Responding to a question, Shah highlighted the positive working relationship between the PPP and the MQM-P, emphasising their history as coalition partners.
Shah also compared the effectiveness of the local body system in Sindh with those in other provinces, asserting that the province’s system was more powerful and efficient. He mentioned MQM’s interest in replicating Sindh’s successful local governance in Punjab through an agreement with the PML-N.
When asked about Ali Amin Gandapur’s statements, the chief minister stated that as an elected CM of K-P, he will be following the lead of his party’s leadership. Murad also mentioned that it is evident from Gandapur’s statements that he is in line with his party leader’s views.
Murad also addressed the issue of alleged election rigging in Sindh, stating that the PPP, like in other provinces, was addressing complaints through legal procedures rather than resorting to public protests. He respected all MPAs, including those from PTI, and highlighted the importance of collaboration for the benefit of the province.
Earlier, CM Murad, accompanied by over 30 MPAs, visited the Sindh High Court to officially propose Zardari as the presidential candidate. PPP MPA Syed Nasir Shah seconded the nomination. The scrutiny of nomination papers is scheduled for March 4, 2024, in Islamabad.
