FAISALABAD City News

Action if UK testifies BBC charges against MQM: Abid
Says incumbent govt inherited outages from previous govt, PPP has no right to launch protest
From Our Correspondent
FAISALABAD: The federal government would not hesitate to take action against Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leaders in case the British government testifies in writing the allegations levelled against Altaf Hussain and others by the BBC.
This was stated by State Minister for Water and Power Chaudhry Abid Sher Ali. He was answering questions by the media after taking a round of the D-Type Colony Ramazan Bazaar here Saturday.
The minister said it was an issue of national security and Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar had already written a letter to the British government to explore the evidence and bring the truth to light. He said the government would not any action against the MQM without any proofs.
About loadshedding, the minister said the incumbent government inherited the curse from the Pakistan People’s Party government. He said the opposition parties were justified in protesting against loadshedding but not the PPP, as it was responsible for this energy shortage situation.
The minister said the PML-N government was tapping all resources to meet electricity shortage and the signing of a number of electricity production projects with China were an evident of the sincerity of the Nawaz Sharif government. He rejected the allegations as unfounded that during Sehr and Iftar timings, power shutdowns were being observed.
He said the deaths of over 1000 persons in Karachi due to severe heat and shutdown was very regrettable and the Karachi Electric Supply Company and the Sindh government were solely responsible for the tragedy.
He said instead of consoling the affected families, PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari flew abroad. He the tragedy occurred in Karachi due to failure of the Sindh Health Department which failed to provide medical assistance to the heatstroke victims by declaring an emergency in Karachi hospitals.
The minister expressed his concern over PTI leader Imran Khan’s going to London where he might prepare another “London Plan” to grab power through undemocratic means.
Ch Abid said no increase in the electricity price had been made. He said consumers using up to 200 units of power were still availing subsidy.
He thanked Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak for helping the Ministry of Water & Power to recover outstanding amounts of electricity bills. He categorically denied that there was any loadshedding in Swabi, Mardan, Swat and Malakand. He said the power theft was a big curse and a main cause of loadshedding.
He visited Ramazan bazaars set up in different localities of the city. MPA Mian Tahir Jamil, DCO Noorul Amin Mengal, PHA Vice Chairman Muhammad Akbar Gori and others were also present on the occasion. He visited the complaint cell and checked the complaint register and directed the duty staff to take immediate action for redress of complaints of people.
The DCO informed the minister that 18 Ramazan bazaars were working in the district and people were being provided facilities of the waiting areas, neat and clean toilets, medical aid and shopping trolleys besides ensuring the supply of fresh vegetables and fruits.