GDA slams Sindh govt over growing drug menace

KARACHI: The Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) on Sunday stepped up its criticism of the Pakistan Peoples Party-led Sindh government, accusing it of failing to check the spread of narcotics in the province and alleging that people within the provincial administration were involved in the drug trade.

The allegations were raised during a consultative meeting of the alliance at Raja House, chaired by GDA chief Pir Pagara, according to a statement issued after the session.

Participants voiced what the statement described as serious concern over the growing use and smuggling of drugs in Sindh, and said the provincial government had completely failed to eradicate the problem.

The GDA leadership called for an across-the-board operation against drug traffickers as well as their alleged backers.

Those present at the meeting included Pir Sadruddin Shah Rashdi, Ghulam Murtaza Jatoi, Dr Safdar Abbasi, Ayaz Latif Palijo, Syed Zain Shah, Saira Bano, Sardar Abdul Rahim and other party leaders.

Local government and administrative structure

The meeting also took up the issue of the local government system in Sindh. GDA leaders said the province did not have a real grassroots governance framework and argued that the failure to transfer authority to lower tiers had deprived people of basic municipal services.

They demanded implementation of an empowered local government system in line with Article 140-A of the Constitution.

Participants further discussed administrative changes in Sindh, including the formation of new divisions and administrative units. The leaders said restructuring was necessary for improved governance and public convenience, while making it clear that any division of Sindh was unacceptable.

Merit, economy and infrastructure

The alliance also criticised what it described as corruption and the "killing of merit" in the Sindh Public Service Commission, saying the situation was damaging the future of the province’s youth.

During the discussion, the meeting observed that Karachi remained the backbone of the national economy, while Gwadar had the capacity to develop into a major regional trade hub.

The leaders stressed the importance of improving infrastructure, law and order, and investment opportunities in both Karachi and Gwadar.

According to the statement issued after the meeting, the GDA reiterated its commitment to continue its struggle for the rights of the people of Sindh, democracy, constitutional supremacy and the protection of the province’s resources.

The consultative session formed part of the alliance’s broader political engagement on governance, public administration and law and order issues in Sindh.