SC decisions positive for PTI, PML-N: Sindh CM

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that the verdicts of Supreme Court of Pakistan in the cases of leaders of PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf) and PML-N (Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz) were comparatively positive but it is Pakistan People's Party which is always seen differently by the judiciary.

This he said while talking to the media after attending Kiran Sitara programme designed to fight against tuberclosis organised under the banner of ‘She Leads” Conference by Indus Health Network at PAF Museum on Saturday.

Replying to a question about the decision of Supreme Court in the disqualification case of Imran Khan and Jahangir Khan Tareen and the Hudaibya Paper Mills case, the chief minister said that he could not comment on the verdicts but “I would like to say that the decisions of the court are comparatively better for both, the PTI and the PML-N while there is a different yardstick for Pakistan People's Party,” he said and added “We always respect the court decisions.” He said the forthcoming general election of 2018 would be the last election for Imran Khan because he is no more leader of the youth. “Oh yes, it is Bilawal Bhutto Zardari who is a genuine leader of youth of the country,” he said and added “Chairman Bilawal Bhutto has the capability to steer the country out of present crisis,” he said.

Talking about tragedy of Army Public School Peshawar of 16 December, Murad Ali Shah said the smiles and fragrance of the children were still alive in his memories. “We can not forget them, they were our future and their sacrifice is a great one which united the nation against terrorists,” he said.

Earlier, addressing the ‘She Leads Conference’ the chief minister said that it is a matter of pride for him to be with 10,000 girl students. “I truly feel the positive spirit of optimism at this forum and we will need your youthful energy, creativity and passion to lead our country to a healthier future,” he said. Murad Ali Shah said today’s generation of young people, particularly the females is the largest the world has ever known. He added that one in every three persons alive today is under the age of 30, and around 90 per cent of the young people are living in developing countries, such as Pakistan. “I believe in your power to shape our future, young people now and in the future would play a big role in how our world addresses challenges,” he said and added that only by ensuring equal opportunities and prospects of development to all young people, we could create a better future. He said the collaborative effort between the Indus Health Network, Interactive Research and Development, Department of Education Government of Sindh, and the Kiran Sitara programme, emphasizes the importance of contributing to progress, particularly during changing times. “This approach is needed now more than ever,” he said.

The chief minister said that the Kiran Sitara Adolescent Health and Leadership programme secured its achievements by mobilizing young girls at the secondary schools. By teaching adolescent girls communication, negotiation, leadership, human rights and combining that with basic health care directives, the Kiran Sitara is creating a network of leaders capable of creating a social impact. He went on to say that over the next decade and beyond, if we are to solve the most pressing issues of our time, we must tap the dynamism of these future generations of leaders, as they have the potential to be the most creative forces for social change in the country. “By empowering these girls, we can drive social progress in areas including access to education, immunization programmes geared towards polio eradication, child marriage and other critical health and development challenges,” he said

It may be noted that The Kiran Sitara program - part of ‘Aao TB Mitao’ aims to enhance leadership skills of adolescent girls. Currently the program is teaching young girls how to identify basic symptoms of TB and train them to send people to key healthcare facilities for further testing. By harnessing the potential of students as “Actors of Social Change”, this indigenous community outreach campaign is designed to increase uptake of screening and treatment services for a TB free Pakistan.