Chandio rules out governor’s rule in Sindh

Karachi

Sindh Chief Minister’s Adviser on Information Moula Bakhsh Chandio has declared that there is “no chance” of imposition of governor’s rule or any “in-house change” in the elected leadership in Sindh.

Addressing journalists on a visit to the Karachi Press Club on Thursday to meet the newly elected office-bearers and members of its governing body, Chandio said there was no open confrontation between the Sindh government and the federation over the issue of law-enforcement powers being bestowed upon Rangers in Karachi.

“However, there are certain legal issues which would be resolved soon,” he claimed. “The leadership of the province want the Rangers to continue enjoying additional powers to carry on their targeted operation in the city till the last terrorist was eliminated.”

Chandio said there was no doubt that the Rangers had taken proactive action in difficult times on directions of the Sindh government to restore peace in Karachi.

“We don’t want the quintessential hustle and bustle of the city to end once more,” he said. “Whatever may the definition of terrorism be, our clear stance is that the operation against terrorism should continue provided that institutions work within their ambits and the authority of the government is duly acknowledged. We can achieve better results if we respect each other mandates.”

The chief minister’s adviser on information said everyone was free to interpret the controversy surrounding Rangers’ powers in Sindh according to their own understandings, but stressed that the point raised by the provincial government had been a legal one.

“There are provisions in the Constitution on the basis of which the federation could achieve its motives. But acting upon them would create deeper fissures and that would not be good for anybody,” he said.

“We don’t want to get estranged from the federation. That’s contrary to the politics of the Pakistan People’s Party.”

Chandio said the provincial leadership had apprised the chief minister about their reservations, and expressed the hope that the issues will be resolved soon.

Chandio was asked about the supposed differences between the federal interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, he replied that if Nisar was to come to Karachi for ironing out differences he would be met cordially.

However, he went on to add, “There are times when one has to swallow a bitter pill to keep oneself healthy. He [Nisar] will also be coming here to cure our illnesses too.”

Answering another question, Chandio said the Muttahida Quami Movement was a political reality in Sindh that enjoyed a large public mandate, so the government could negotiate with it for resolving people’s issues.

He said the opposition parties which had recently joined hands to form a grand alliance in Sindh were all the same and had ulterior motives to scrap the elected assemblies and derail democratic the setup.

He said it was alarming that people affiliated with Daesh were being arrested from Punjab, especially when the federal authorities had categorically denied the presence Daesh in the country.