Circus staged in Islamabad, but PPP is opposed to banning any party: Murad

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said on Friday the protest organised in Islamabad by a specific political party resembled a circus with “jokers” in attendance, but despite this the Pakistan Peoples Party was opposed to banning any political party.

However, the demand for the release of a particular individual was fundamentally wrong, he said while speaking to media after attending a conference at a local hotel.

Shah noted the difficulties surrounding the imposition of governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, stating that it has become quite challenging to enforce governor’s rule. He recalled that discussions about governor’s rule in Sindh occurred daily during the previous government of the PTI.

When asked about the Council of Common Interests (CCI), Shah expressed concern over the federal government’s failure to convene a CCI meeting, which he regarded as a constitutional necessity. “It has been nine months since the last CCI meeting, and this is not just my concern but an issue for the entire country,” he added.

The chief minister emphasized that the water crisis cannot be addressed without a CCI meeting, explaining that no new canals are being constructed.

On the matter of Sindh’s water rights, he reiterated the PPP’s position, saying, “Not a single drop of Sindh’s water will be given to anyone.” He asserted, “We will neither surrender our rights nor claim anyone else’s.”

He recalled that Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto had protested against the Kalabagh Dam at Kamu Shaheed, and he reaffirmed the PPP’s consistent opposition to its construction. He criticised those who once abandoned their positions during debates on anti-Kalabagh Dam resolutions but were now silent.

In response to nationalist parties’ criticism, Shah pointed out that some nationalist groups did not attend the JUI-F conference simply because the PPP was invited, suggesting that their main issue was with the PPP. “We raise Sindh’s rights at every forum and are not afraid to speak on any platform,” he asserted. He concluded his remarks by reiterating the PPP’s unwavering stance on protecting Sindh’s rights and water resources, emphasising the party’s commitment to safeguarding them at all platforms.