NAB, FIA are invading Sindh, says Qaim

Karachi
The chief minister said on Monday that the National Accountability Bureau and the Federal Investigation Agency had no jurisdiction to conduct raids in Sindh.
“It’s an invasion and we are going to challenge it,” Qaim Ali Shah told reporters during an event at the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry building.
The chief minister said the federal government or officers of its agencies could not perform the functions of the Sindh government pertaining to criminal offences including the corruption of provincial bureaucrats.
“The Sindh government usually gives powers to Rangers, but the Centre has allowed NAB and the FIA, without asking the province, to raid provincial and local government offices, arrest officers and paralyse the everyday working of the provincial government,” he remarked. “I will not allow this. I consider it an invasion,” he added.

LG polls
Replying to a question, the chief minister said the Supreme Court had fixed the date of September 20 to conduct the local bodies elections. “You should appreciate that Sindh was the first province that enacted the local government law, but the elections could not be conducted as it was challenged in court,” he noted. “I want to make it clear that we won’t extend the election date. We are ready and hold the elections on September 20.”Replying to another question regarding extending Rangers’ power for four more months, the chief minister refused to give a clear answer.
Earlier, FPCCI vice president Abdul Rahim Janu appreciated the chief minister, police and Rangers efforts for restoring peace in Karachi.
On the FPCCI’s request, the chief minister directed the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board to provide sufficient water to the SITE area at the earliest.
The FPCCI vice president told the chief minister that they had a plot on which wanted to set up an Economic Cooperation Organisation office to boost international trade, but Sindh building Control Authority was creating hurdles for them.
The chief minister ordered the SBCA to cooperate with the FPCCI and address their problem.
The chief minister also said he wanted the construction of the Lyari Expressway’s second track to start as it would benefit the industrial area but the federal government was not releasing funds for the project.
He added that there were multi-storied buildings illegally built where the leftover second track had to be constructed and now their owners were demanding that thye should be compensated.
Shah said Rs6 billion were required to provide compensate those owners.
“It’s tragic that the government is forced to compensate those who have illegally occupied government land,” he added.
He also said the federal government was not giving Sindh its due monetary share.
"Sindh was been given peanuts in the form of Rs585 billion in federal PSDP,” he rued. “However, the prime minister is kind enough to assure us that a substantial amount will be proved for the K-4 mega water project and the Green Line rapid bus transport system.

Task force
The chief minister said he had formed a task force to address environmental issues of industrial areas.
“We have been given a GSP plus status, so we have to come up to its standards,” he added. The taskforce will be headed by industries department minister Ghulam Qadir Malkani and FPCCI representative Feroze Gulzar will be among its other members.

CM talks to Nisar
The chief minister called up interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and described the NAB and the FIA’s actions in Sindh as a violation of the principles of provincial autonomy.
Shah told Khan that the two federal agencies had started conducting raids in Shikarpur and other districts of the province, and even arrested teachers and clerks.
"We have an anti-corruption department and an inspection team to handle such smaller offences,” he added.
The chief minister said the provincial government would cooperate with the federal agencies if there was a major case of corruption, but even then, NAB and the FIA were bound to take him into confidence first. Khan assured Shah that he would personally look into the matter and address the issue.

Altaf praises CM’s ‘bold’ stance
Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain has praised the chief minister’s “bold” stance against the FIA’s interference in Sindh’s matters.
In a statement, Hussain said the MQM fully supported the chief minister in his resistance against the FIA’s action the province.
Hussain added his party would support the provincial government in every way possible if it challenged the additional powers given to the FIA in court.
“Sindh has been treated like a colony for the past 68 years. It’s time for the people of Sindh to wake up and unite for their rights.”
Hussain urged the lawmakers of Sindh to set aside their ideological differences and jointly start a campaign for the constitutional rights of the province.