KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that the old Karachi which was known for its peace and prosperity has been revived by organizing a successful mega event of PSL and now the Old Pakistan has to be restored in which nobody could dare to talk about oppressing the people just to listen to their screams.
He said that in Old Pakistan the government ministers used to talk about the people and their problems but surprisingly in `new Pakistan’ all these ethics have vanished away and now they [federal ministers] were using unethical language and saying “they would listen screams of people because they know how to suppress the masses.
“Yes! Under your rule [fed govt] people are screaming against unprecedented price hike, people are crying against unemployment and people are screaming against NAB,” Shah said and added the provincial government was facing a shortfall of Rs120 billion in federal transfers [funds] and “yes! People of Sindh are screaming because work on their development schemes a have to come to standstill for want of funds. “Therefore people of this country need Old Pakistan,” he said.
He said that in New Pakistan Speaker of Sindh Assembly was arrested from Islamabad and then his family was made hostage for eight hours in Karachi. “When you had no evidence against the speaker why did you arrest him,” he asked. Actually, the anti-corruption was a provincial subject but the federal government has grabbed these powers under the garb of NAB. “It was unfortunate that the PPP and PML-N governments in the center failed to undo the NAB law during their tenure,” he said.
This he said while addressing a press conference here at the Committee Room of Old Assembly Building. He was flanked by Minister Local Government Saeed Ghani and his Advisor on Information Murtaza Wahab.
The chief minister said that the PSL was the biggest event in the history of this city in which eight matches of international level, including the Final one were played here because Karachi was now a peaceful city. “The peace has not returned here with mere lips services but it has been restored after a lot of sacrifices rendered by the personnel of law enforcement agencies and people of Karachi who faced terrorism and terrorism-like situation for around 25 years and sacrificed their dear and near ones.
He congratulated the people of Karachi for hosting such a mega event in the city and appreciated the divisional and district administration, the KMC, the DMCs, the police, the Rangers and other agencies for working day and night to make the event successful.
He also told the newsmen that the tragic incident of New Zealand where 50 Muslims were killed in two mosques was quite painful. Out of 50 causalities, nine belonged to Pakistan, of them three were Karachiites. “Today, I went to their homes and offered condolence with their families,” he said and added he was satisfied that their aggrieved family members spirit was high.
Shah reiterated the stance of his party leadership, particularly of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari who emphasized on the need of implementing National Action Plan in true letter and spirit. “He (chairman PPP) is absolutely right in his narrative that amongst us we have to identify and ward off people who are in hand and in gloves with the terrorist,” he said. He added that in terrorism we have lost 70,000 innocent lives and Pakistan was the biggest victim of terrorism, therefore NAP must be implemented.
The chief minister said that some people usually were talking against Chairman PPP because he was adamant to remove those who were supporting terrorism.
The chief minister said that there was zero tolerance for terrorists as far as Sindh government was concerned. Recently, an increase in target killing incidents was noticed in the city because MQM-London had stepped up its terrorist activities in Karachi but “our police and Rangers busted their gang,” he said.
K-IV: Replying to a question, the chief minister said that his government had started work on K-IV project in 2016 and the awarded the contract to FWO by relaxing Sindh PPRA rules so that the project could be completed in time. “But sorry to say the federal government was not cooperating to share the financial burden,” he said and added a federal minister had said that there was no need of K-IV project.
Mr Shah said that in his first meeting with the prime minister he had taken up the K-IV project and had requested him to release required funds but nothing has been done so far. The cost has increased manifold because there were faults in it design. “We have offered the federal government to conduct third party audit and validation of the project but at least contribute its 50 percent share so that project could be completed for provision of water to this megalopolis city of Karachi.
KCR: To another question, Murad Ali Shah said that the solution of urban transport problem lied in Karachi Circular Railways. “We have got it approved from in CPEC but the federal government showed lukewarm attitude in 2016 and then it approved it but the present government has almost abandoned the KCR in CPEC,” he said.
He said that his government was working on Yellow Line, Orange Line and Red Line projects and Inshallah next year (2019-20) there would be a commendable progress in these projects.
Water Shortage: Yet to another question, the chief minister said that short releases to downstream Kotri has destroyed delta and the sea has started intruding around 80,000 acres of sweet land. “We are not only facing short releases of funds from divisible pool but are faced with water shortage which is destroying agro economy and playing havoc with sweet lands downstream Kotri,” he concluded.
To a question about Ghansham murder case, the chief minister said that it was initially turned to be personal amenity but the government was doing justice with the victim’s family. They requested for change of investigation team, the government changed it. “We will not allow anybody anywhere in Sindh to take law into his own hands,” he concluded.