SUKKUR/LARKANA - Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that alliances were made against the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) before elections in the past, but these could not achieve anything as people again cast their votes for Pakistan Peoples’ Party.

He said that there would be also no affect on the PPP from Grand Democratic Alliance. He was talking to the media here at the residence of district president PPP Syed Jawed Shah.

He said that Benazir Bhutto who had given big sacrifices for strengthening the democratic system in the country still lived in the hearts of people despite the lapse of 10 years and people could never forget her. “It seems as if the incident happened today,” he added.

Emphasising that everybody has the right to speak on the country’s politics and that the constitution also allowed this right to everybody, the CM said that first of all Pak Sarzameen Party (PPP) should make its identity clear and make public its agenda before talking against anybody.

Replying to a question about holding Pakistan Super League (PSL) cricket matches in Karachi, Sindh chief minister said that he had asked the PSL management to hold matches last year, but perhaps at that time, the matches were not possible due to the security threats to the foreign players featuring in the tournament.

“We had so many threats at that time, but we were completely ready to host the matches even then,” Murad recalled.

In reply to a question about manhandling of teachers by police in Karachi, the chief minister said that baton-charging the NTS test passed teachers was wrong. At the same time, however, he asserted that they had been recruited on contract and their contract period had been extended.

Later, speaking to media men at the residence of veteran PPP leader Nawab Sardar Khan Chandio in Kamber city on Thursday, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said that Benazir Bhutto (BB) had laid the foundation of Jamshoro to Sehwan single road and now on the directives of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto and Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari, the road was being upgraded to a dual carriageway to facilitate the people of Sindh.

The chief minister told that the groundbreaking of first phase of dual carriageway (from Jamshoro to Manjhand) had been also been made couple of days back,  and work on the dual carriageway’s Phase II from Manjhand to Sehwan would start as soon as possible.

The chief minister further said that after inviting the tenders, another phase project would be launched after completion of the required formalities in 2018.

He said BB was a visionary leader, who had foreseen future requirements some 20 years back and ordered building the Indus Highway.

“The construction of dual carriageway is also essential to avoid the loss of precious human lives during accidents, which are frequent between Jamshoro and Sehwan, adding that this project would also facilitate the commerce and trade-related activities bound to increase due to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).