We won’t accept census results if centre fails to address concerns: Khuhro

Nisar Khuhro says the PM finally remembers Sindh, cautions him not to ignore the province

SUKKUR: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has finally remembered and visited Sindh after four long years, said Sindh Parliamentary Minister and Pakistan Peoples Party Sindh President Nisar Ahmed Khuhro while talking to the media in Sukkur on Tuesday. “But I think his visits to Sindh are more like farewell parties,” said Khuhro.

Referring to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the minister said the federal government was reluctant to include Sindh’s mega projects in it but were forced by the Sindh government to include Keti Bandar, Karachi Circular Railway and Industrial Zone in CPEC. The credit for CPEC goes to former president Asif Ali Zardari and not to Prime Minister Sharif, Khuhro claimed. “With the completion of CPEC, unemployment will decrease considerably and the agriculture sector will be boosted,” he said.

Population census

Talking about the ongoing population census, Khuhro said, “We have some reservations about it”. Demanding the federal government address Sindh’s concerns, he warned that if they fail to do so, then the Sindh government will not accept the results. “We want transparency in this regard because the National Finance Commission Award is given according to the population,” he said, adding that PM Sharif always metes out stepmother-like treatment to the smaller provinces.

Strongly criticising the government’s decision not to announce the population census results for four months, the minister accused the government of wanting to serve its vested interests.

“A couple of years back, Nawaz Sharif, during his visit to Tharparkar, had announced a grant of Rs1 billion, which still remains a mere announcement,” Khuhro accused.

 Sharjeel Memon

Talking about the brief detention of PPP leader Sharjeel Inam Memon at the Islamabad airport, Khuhro said the former information minister was on bail and his arrest was not a good thing. Referring to the statement of Punjab’s law minister regarding “Chor machaey shor [Thieves make noise],” he said if this is true then Finance Minister Ishaq Dar should be arrested as he has admitted to money laundering. “Prime Minister Sharif’s name should be placed on the Exit Control List due to his name’s inclusion in the Panama Papers,” he added.

The parliamentary minister said that the PPP is going to mark its founder’s death anniversary April 4 on a large scale and the party’s leadership will be in Garhi Khuda Bux. “I am here to finalise the arrangements of the death anniversary,” he said. On this occasion, he urged party workers to attend the death anniversary in large numbers.