PPP has given clarification on the relief goods and tents recovered after a raid from a local party leader’s warehouse and called the whole incident propaganda.
Earlier, more than 500 tents stamped with “UAE” were recovered during a raid at a rice mill warehouse in the town of Nasirabad along with some ration bags which were supposed to be distributed among the affectees.
According to the details, the tents were brought to the rice mill warehouse by newly-elected councilor from PPP, Wazir Ali Phulpoto. The tents were stored on the directives of the local MPA who had handed over the tents.
Read more: Flood victims rage against PPP leader
Leading the raid, District and sessions judge Kamber Shahdadkot Zahid Hussain Mitlo, who was escorted by police and some officials in plain clothes, ordered the SSP to register a case against PPP local councilor, rice mill owners, and concerned SHO for their involvement.
“People are bearing the brunt of rains and sitting under the open sky and you have stored the tents here,” said the judge to the owner of the rice mill in a video that went viral on social media.
A session judge in Naseerabad, #Sindh raided rice mill owned by Wazir Phulpoto, a former councillor and local leader of the ruling Pakistan People Party and recovered 1500 tents meant for the flood affected people, reports @ArifMehmoodPAK https://t.co/6JlFXudbGc
— Naimat Khan (@NKMalazai) September 15, 2022
Reacting to the video, political parties and civil society activists condemned it, demanding action against relevant officials and the local PPP leaders.
Pertinent to mention that flood victims in Sindh have protested and complained that they were not provided with relief aid. They have been protesting and demanding basic facilities including tents, food, drinking water, and basic health facilities.
PPP gives clarification
Owing to the intense backlash, Rab Nawaz Baloch, a leader of PPP’s social media team, clarified that the tents were purchased by a UAE-based organization and some of the tents were purchased MPA Burhan Chandio from his own pocket.
Sharing the receipts on Twitter, Rab Nawaz Baloch said that the UAE organization is privately engaged in relief work in Sindh. The organization privately purchased some rations and tents from the UAE.
Moreover, MPA Burhan Chandio along with other PPP leaders bought some goods personally. The goods arrived two days ago and were stored in the warehouse so that the distribution process could be decided on.
Read more: PPP leader Manzoor Wassan compared flooded Sindh to Venice
“The supplies that were bought for the flood victims were lost due to political quirks and personal animosity. The function of the Courts is to provide immediate justice, but what is the delivery of justice? This equipment was judicially executed,” Rab Nawaz Baloch tweeted.
“Goods that have nothing to do with the government or the ruling party have been linked to the government/ruling party and vigorous propaganda was started,” he further added.
https://twitter.com/RabNBaloch/status/1570445775083278336