PM has ‘failed to fulfil his responsibility’

Chief Minister Murad says people of Sindh disappointed;PPP introduces new recruits from Dadu

Sindh’s chief minister has condemned the prime minister for deferring the meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI), saying that the premier has “failed to fulfil his constitutional responsibility” of convening the conference every three months.

“If you [the premier] can’t fulfil your constitutional responsibilities, then make way for someone else,” Syed Murad Ali Shah said while addressing a news conference at the CM House on Wednesday.

Shah said he had made necessary preparations to present Sindh’s case with respect to gas, electricity and water in the CCI meeting earlier scheduled for April 28, but the PM had suddenly postponed the conference.

“This is quite disappointing for the people of Sindh,” he said. “The constitution says the province that produces gas has first and foremost right to use it, but the federal government has denied this constitutional right of the people of Sindh.”

The chief executive said the PM was bound by the constitution to convene the CCI meeting every 90 days, but the last meeting was held in December last year, in which a committee was constituted under the federal law minister to settle the gas issue.

“I had personally attended the meeting of the law minister; the minutes of the meeting have also been approved; and now the decision was to be taken in the CCI meeting, but he [the premier] postponed it,” lamented Shah. “I condemn the decision.”

Responding to a query, the chief executive said the construction of the M9 motorway was defective. “We want you [the premier] to construct it properly, as it doesn’t look like a motorway.”

Replying to a question about the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan’s (MQM-P) white paper, CM Shah said his cabinet members had already responded to the “baseless allegations”. “They’re unaware of the number of administrative divisions [in the province], yet they think fit to talk about these issues.”

He denied having withdrawn the security of MQM-P leaders, and said that it was the responsibility of the police force to provide protection to the people who feel threatened. “[MQM-P chief] Dr Farooq Sattar had requested security, and he has been provided it accordingly.”

In a veiled reference to the MQM-P, the chief executive said that some people had a problem with the development schemes he had launched across Karachi.

He said the policy of these “people” was simple: “Neither work for the uplift of the city and the welfare of its people, nor let others work for them [the people of the city], but I’m telling them that I shall serve Karachi with my heart and soul.”

On the subject of kidnapping of Asif Ali Zardari’s friends Ghulam Qadir Marri and Ashfaq Leghari, CM Shah said: “It doesn’t appear to be a mere abduction; it’s something else.” He added that some people from another province were involved in the case.

He brushed aside the impression that only 40 per cent of the development funds had been utilised by his provincial government during the current fiscal year.

He said that around 60 per cent more uplift resources had been spent this time round as compared to the previous financial year.

New PPP recruits

Earlier at the news conference, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Sindh President Nisar Ahmed Khuhro introduced Syed Zafar Ali Shah, who, along with his political associates, announced joining the party.

Shah is a former Dadu taluka nazim and general secretary of the Liaquat Jatoi-led Awami Ittehad. Besides him, Rehan Hanif, Bakhshal Khan Panhwar, Moinul Hassan and others also announced jumping ship to the PPP.

Khuhro said they had joined the party because “they believe it is the only party where they could be heard and respected”.

The new recruits said they had been with Jatoi, but he joined the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), adding that they “do not consider the PTI a serious political party”.