CM inaugurates annual Urs of Hazrat Sachal Sarmast

KHAIRPUR: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah inaugurated the 196^th Urs celebrations of Sufi saint Hazrat Sachal Sarmast at shrine town of Daraza Sharif on Saturday, ARY News reported.

Accompanied by PPP leaders and cabinet members the chief minister laid a wreath on the grave of the multilingual Sufi poet and offered fateha to mark the beginning of the annual Urs celebrations.

Attired in saffron-coloured conical cap and scarf the CM said Sindh is the land of Sufis who fostered peace, brotherhood and harmony.

Slamming the federal government for failing to give the share of the National Finance Commission (NFC) award, Shah said the government should have announced the award before presenting its budget. He called the government’s act as unconstitutional.

Speaking to reporters in the premises of the shrine, Murad said that the performance of power distribution companies, including K-Electric, SEPCO and HESCO, was unsatisfactory as the people of the province were reeling under prolonged load-shedding of up to 20 hours.

“I have empowered civic institutions according to the powers given to me by the provincial legislative assembly. I cannot go beyond my authority,” he said while referring to the complaints of Karachi Mayor about the Sindh government having curtailed powers of local bodies. He also said that the government was making earnest efforts to ensure that growers get their share of water for cultivation.

Shah did mention the desertions in his party, saying the party they were joining couldn’t defeat PPP.

Amid tight security a large number of devotees have arrived at the shrine to participate in the three-day Urs celebrations to pay respects to Hazrat Sachal Sarmast, which begin on 14 Ramazan.