CM accuses governor of not taking interest in Sindh’s affairs

Sindh’s chief minister said on Sunday that it seemed that the governor had the least interest in the affairs of the province. “The governor is a representative of the federation in Sindh and the province requires his due attention, which is nowhere in sight.”

CM Syed Murad Ali Shah made the statements on Sunday during a news conference at Bilawal House, where it was announced that Naz Baloch had quit the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and joined the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

PPP Women Wing President Faryal Talpur, party leader Saeed Ghani, Home Minister Suhail Siyal and other leaders of the party were also present on the occasion.

Regarding the recent bill passed by the Sindh Assembly to strike down the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) 1999, the chief executive said former military ruler Pervez Musharraf had imposed NAO when a state of emergency was declared in the country.

He said the provincial lawmakers had been briefed in detail when the bill was moved in the House to strike down NAO in the province, adding that the legislature would once again discuss whatever objections had been raised against the bill by the governor, who had refused to approve it.

CM Shah said the bill had earlier been granted indemnity by the parliament under the 17th constitutional amendment. “Despite being the governor of Sindh, his interest is not the same as that of the province.”

He said the Supreme Court had already ruled that “NAO had died”, adding that the bill to strike down NAO in the province would once again be moved in the assembly along with the governor’s observations.

He admitted that water was a serious issue of the province, saying that efforts were being made to ensure supply of potable water to the people.

Meanwhile, Faryal said that at present the PPP was spreading in the entire country, claiming that the party would secure a major victory in the next general elections. She hoped that Naz would further the mission of her father. “Our doors remain open to everyone, as Naz has rejoined her own family.”

On Friday Governor Mohammad Zubair had returned two bills, including the one nullifying NAO 1999, which were passed earlier this month, to the provincial assembly without his assent.

On July 3 the legislature had passed the National Accountability Ordinance 1999 Repeal Bill 2017 and the Sindh New Captive Power Plants Subsidy Bill 2017 with a majority vote.

The bill striking down NAO in the province was passed with the view that under the constitution the provincial governments were fully empowered to legislate upon and adopt systems to fight the menace of corruption, and that the federal administration did not possess any power over the provinces in that regard.

The treasury bench of the House was of the view that NAO had given unbridled powers to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to hold provincial employees accountable in an unfair, discriminatory and vindictive manner, only to pursue the agenda of the rulers. The lawmakers observed that the ordinance negated the spirit of the constitution and the system of justice.

Law Minister Ziaul Hassan confirmed to The News that the governor had returned the two bills without approving them. As for the NAO repeal bill, he said the governor did not provide his observations over any specific clause.