Rolling back 18th Amendment not cakewalk: Murad Shah

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Saturday said that the policy and stand of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on 18th Constitutional Amendment was very loud and clear.

“If anybody attempts to roll it back I can’t do anything but it is not as much easy as is being considered,” he said and added that the provinces should be made more autonomous instead of making attempts to take away their autonomy. He was talking to media after meeting Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar at his Supreme Court chamber, in Karachi.

Talking about Pakistan Quarters operation, Shah said that the police had not consulted with the district administration but coordinated with land department of the federal government and started operation. “I have ordered an inquiry into the matter and action would be taken accordingly,” he said.

He said that he was thankful to Saqib Nisar for listening to him on various issues such as JIT, health, Thar, dams, cleanliness and others on which wrong impression was being developed.

He said that he told the chief Justice that the joint investigation team (JIT) constituted in money laundering case has sought a detailed record of 10 years and the same has been provided to them but definitely it would take some time. At this the chief justice said that the provision of record to the JIT was the job of concerned bureaucracy not of the chief minister, he the CM said.

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CM Murad Shah said that there were about 80 engineers in Irrigation and Works & Service departments. “We asked all of them to provide record of the contracts they have awarded during the last 10 years,” he said and added “of course, it is a time-consuming job to compile details of last 10 years and they have done it. He said, “the JIT wanted provision of such a huge record within two days which is impossible.” He also said that the chief justice also appreciated the provincial government for providing record to the JIT.

He said that the Saqib Nisar had not summoned him but had called him for meeting. The CJP also said that the media had given it a wrong impression, he said.

“My meeting with Saqib Nisar was held in a good atmosphere,” he said and added in the start of the meeting the chief justice had congratulated him on his election chief minister for second tenure. He also congratulated his that people of Sindh had reposed confidence in the Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP).

Shah said that he briefed the top justice about his last 10-year experience with the conditions of Thar and the efforts he has made so far to improve overall day today life.

The chief minister said that he also briefed him about health facilities established in Thar. “I have requested the chief justice to visit Thar with me and witness our efforts we have made for health, education, infrastructure, livelihood and for energy sectors,” he said and added he was happy that the CJP had also accepted his invitation.

He said that the chief justice of Pakistan appreciating his efforts said he [CJ] had visited hospitals of KPK but the hospitals of Karachi were much better than those of KPK. “I have requested the chief justice to visit NICVD and he has agreed to my request,” he said.

To a question, Murad Shah said that the Bhasha Dam project was actually conceived and approved by the PPP government in 2010.

Shah said that Mian Saqib Nisar had said that lifting of garbage from the city was the job of the government but he had taken its notice just to wake up the concerned authorities and create awareness among the people about the problem.

Replying to a question the chief minister said that 4,600 schools with a good enrolment ratio have been identified for provision of basic facilities.