After anti-corruption law, we have to eliminate corruption: CM

Murad Shah visits minorities' worship places to celebrate National Minority Day

KARACHI: Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has said that after the repeal of the federal accountability law, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) cannot take any action in Sindh. "We have enforced our anti-corruption law and now the provincial government will have to eliminate corruption from the province on its own."
This he said while talking to the media after visiting St Patrick's Cathedral, Saddar, to express solidarity with the Christian community on National Minority Day. He was accompanied by excise minister Dr Mukesh Chawla, Special Assistant to CM on Minorities Affairs Khatu Mal Jeevan, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Naveed Anthony, MPA Saeed Ghani and others.



He said that NAB has no jurisdiction to investigate provincial cases now. "Our stance is very clear that anti-corruption is a provincial subject," he said. He added that the provincial government would strengthen its law to fight corruption.
When the CM reached St Patrick's Cathedral, he was received by leaders of the Christian community. Shah said that minorities have equal rights in Pakistan. "In Sindh we never consider you [Christians] as a minority but as the sons of the soil and you enjoy the same rights as our Muslim brothers do," he said, adding that the contributions of the Christian community for the education and development of the province are praise worthy.



After the church visit, Shah visited Swami Narayan Mandir at Light House and participated in their rituals. He also visited Guru Nanak Darbar located near the temple and participated in their religious rituals.
Addressing the reception organised by Dr Jeevan, Shah said he would explore the possibility of establishing a separate primary and secondary school within the premises of the temple. "I know you [Hindus and Sikhs] are settled here and have over 300 homes within and around the temple area, therefore you need a school within the compound," he said.



Shah, on behalf of his party leadership, assured them of his full support and cooperation. "Why do you feel you are a minority? You are our majority, your presence has made this country colourful and beautiful and the PPP will never allow this beauty to fade away," he said. The CM added that the party has made two members of the Hindu community ministers in the provincial cabinet and had supported another Hindu member in the general election. "We are with you and we will be with you because you have deep roots in this province and the country. This is your country," he said.

Cops' killings
Talking about the recent killings of policemen in the city, the CM said that he was taking strict measures to put an end to such killings. "We are working on it and exploring which [terrorist] group has emerged to challenge the police force," he said and vowed to crush them.
Talking about the police IG issue, Shah said that the matter was in court, therefore, he would not discuss it.