Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Saturday said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership should apologise to Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) President Asif Ali Zardari for leveling baseless allegations against him.
“Had he [Zardari] indulged in horse-trading in Punjab, the PTI-nominated candidate would not have bagged 186 votes,” said the chief minister while talking to the media as he reviewed cleanliness of and repair work of storm-water drains in Gulistan-i-Jauhar. “PTI leaders are so scared of Zardari that they start crying foul whenever they see him holding meetings with the members of other political leaders,” he said.
The chief minister added that the former president was a leading politician of the country who has pursued the politics of reconciliation to strengthen democracy in the country.
“Chaudhry Shujaat was an ally of the PTI. He parted ways with it after developing political differences and subsequently stopped his party lawmakers from voting for the PTI-nominated candidate for the Punjab chief minister’s election,” he maintained.
Replying to a question, Shah said that his government was committed to holding local bodies elections but the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) postponed them without their consent. “This is a baseless and unfounded allegation that the PPP and its government in Sindh had got the local bodies election postponed,” he said and added the next mayor of the city would be from PPP.
Moreover, the chief minister said that the unfortunate incident at under-construction Shadman Nullah in which a family met a tragic incident had hurt him. “You know we are facing a natural calamity and in such a situation people should avoid going out,” he said and added he was not defending the incident, but it was the time to protect children and other family members. “We, being the heads of our families must protect our families in natural calamities,” he said and expressed sympathy with the aggrieved families.
He visited KPT Nullah, Machhar Colony Nullah, a nullah located near City Station, Mahmoodabad Nullah, Picher Nullah, Sindh Secretariat and other low-lying areas and gave necessary instructions to the local bodies officials deputed there. He said that the local bodies have made necessary arrangements to deal with rain on Sunday as predicted by the PMD.
He was accompanied by Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, Local Government Minister Nasir Shah and Administrator Karachi Murtaza Wahab.
