KARACHI: The Tabdeeli Pasand Party (TPP) leader, Ali Kazi said the elections in 2018 would not be rigged like those of 2013. He said there will be a major change in 2018 and the people will reject those who did not resolve their problems.
Addressing a press conference at his residence in Hyderabad on Monday, Ali Kazi, the leader of the newly launched Tabdeeli Pasand Party, said he had been struggling for a change for the last 24 years, and it was his earnest desire that someone may bring about a radical change but when he was dejected, he decided to join politics to bring about a radical transformation. Kazi said the TPP has been registered in the Election Commission of Pakistan. He said his party manifesto is ready, which highlights commitment to bring about good governance and ensure the rule of law.
Kazi said they have not launched the political party at the behest of someone, rather he was struggling for the radical shift for the last so many years. He said he had visited every union council in Sindh to prepare the public for a change as only the common man can bring about change. He said the TPP would issue tickets to the people with good and strong credentials and they already have a team comprising people experienced in contesting election and were financially stable as well. Kazi said he intends to contest election from three constituencies of Sindh but a final decision is yet to be taken from which ones.
He said despite change of scores of governments, no change was ever witnessed in the condition of Sindh, rather the conditions have deteriorated. He said be it the rural or the urban areas of Sindh, people are deprived of basic necessities including clean drinking water. He said although the whole country is in the grip of corruption, but Sindh is the worst affected. He said there could be no prosperity in the province unless there is change in the governance.
Meanwhile, talking exclusively with The News after Sunday’s public rally in which he formally launched his party, Kazi said the TPP will take revenge on the feudal lords by voting them out on the day of election.
He said the TPP will change the agenda of Sindh and 420 feudal-lords will no more be able to hold the people hostage. “They have ruined the future of our children through massive corruption, loot and plunder. So, how can we spare them? Pakistan is suffering at the hands of corruption but Sindh is its worst victim,” he said.
Replying to a question, he said all lamented that the socio-economic indicators of Sindh were on the downward trajectory due to bad governance. He said around 50 million children of school going age were out of school while the results of those enrolled in public schools were not satisfactory.
“As for health, there’s more than Rs100 billion annual budget, but four million people are suffering from Hepatitis. In public hospitals, patients' care and treatment is missing because funds for medicine are embezzled,” Kazi said.
Warning the rulers of Sindh, Ali Kazi said sugarcane growers' dreams had crashed when they didn't receive the right price for their crop. “Now is the time to tell these "bohtars" (feudal lords) that enough is enough! We are neither coward, nor commodity, so you cannot purchase or intimidate us.”
He said thousands of workers and supporters from all over Sindh thronged the TPP public meeting in Hyderabad, which was an open referendum against decades-long bad governance in Sindh.
Referring to unavailability of clean drinking water, he said it was heart-rending as well as infuriating that animals and humans both drank hazardous water from the same pond. “Therefore, we are not struggling against one party but the entire system. It doesn't matter if one electable feudal lord switches loyalty from one party to another because the fate of the people of Sindh will remain the same,” Kazi said.
Replying to another question, Kazi said Sindhis no longer owed debt of Shaheeds (martyred) or murshids (spiritual leaders). “It’s time for change, which is just four months away,” he said.
Ali Kazi concluded that he had quit journalism, and will contest the upcoming elections. Moreover, the TPP will field candidates in every constituency. Demonstrating optimism, Ali Kazi said the TPP politics was a harbinger of change and will defeat traditional and old-fashioned politics in the province.
