Zardari held presidential office at a challenging time, says Sindh CM

Murad Ali Shah visits Quaid-i-Azam's Mausoleum on Jinnah's birth anniversary

KARACHI: Praising former president and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari, Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Murad Ali Shah said that he held the presidential office at a crucial and challenging time in the country's history.

He said this while addressing the media on Sunday, after paying a visit to Quaid-i-Azam's Mausoleum as part of the customary attendance for Mohammad Ali Jinnah's birth anniversary. The CM commended Jinnah for his efforts and struggles for the Pakistan movement. He met Zardari, PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and PPP leader Manzoor Wasan at Quaid's mausoleum.



While mentioning Jinnah's golden rules, the CM said that Zardari and Bilawal intend to follow them. Referring to the former president's return to Pakistan, Shah said that it has agitated opponents from other political parties. According to the CM, Zardari could not move back to the country last year due to his illness.

"It's not in my capacity to give power to the mayor; it is the law that [empowers him]," said Shah while speaking about matters pertaining to the Karachi mayor and Sindh IG Allah Dino Khawaja. He argued that many people are eager to highlight the Sindh IG's leave issue, however, everyone has turned a blind eye to the fact that Pakistan is functioning without a foreign minister. "The Sindh IG's leave does not hinder the day-to-day operations," he claimed. He said there are many other pressing issues at hand that need to be dealt with.

In response to a question related to the raids before Zardari's arrival in Karachi, the CM said that an apex committee meeting is scheduled to take place with the new military leadership in the first week of January. He said that restoration of peace across the province is his highest priority. "We [the provincial government] will work with the local bodies," he vowed.



The CM said that if anyone wants to make a political statement, they may do so according to their rights as a Pakistani citizen. Referring to the Panama papers case, Shah said that the parliament is the biggest institution in the country, because of which it should look into the case.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 26^th, 2016.