CM Sindh Murad Ali Shah. PHOTO: Express
KARACHI: Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has said that his government will never allow a delay in the upcoming general election, therefore a way out should be explored to hold the general election on the basis of the provisional census results.
This he said while presiding over a preparatory meeting for the 25th Inter-Provincial Coordination Committee (IPCC) at CM House on Wednesday. The meeting was attended by provincial ministers Jam Mehtab Dahar and Dr Sikandar Mandhro, Chief Secretary Rizwan Memon, Sindh Higher Education Commission Chairperson Dr Asim Hussain, Principal Secretary to CM Sohail Rajput, Energy Secretary Agha Wasif, the IPC department secretary and others.
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The chief minister (CM) said that the provisional census results were presented in the last census meeting saying that the final results would be released by April, 2018, which was too late.
"Delay in releasing the final results means delay in the election," the chief minister said, adding that when the final results are released, the government is constitutionally bound to hold elections accordingly.
He said that his government will never allow a delay in the general elections.
He said that the Council of Common Interests (CCI), referring the matter to the IPCC, had directed it to examine the matter from all angles, including, among others, a constitutional amendment as well as enhancing resources in consultation with the Election Commission of Pakistan, so that the next general election could be held on the basis of the final results of the sixth population census.
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He added that the CCI further directed the IPCC to submit its report at its next meeting.
The CM said that his government has serious reservations on the population census results. He added that during the last 19 years, the population growth of Karachi has been shown at 2.6%, which comes to 5.5 million. This population growth has been shown in three districts - East, Korangi and Malir. Shah said that 40% of the population of Jamshoro has been shown as urban.
He directed the chief secretary to get block-wise census results from the chief census commissioner for counter checking. He added that he would recheck some blocks and the results would be crystal clear.
The CM directed the health minister to lead the Sindh government team at the IPCC meeting being held today (Thursday) and maintain a clear stance during the meeting.
The other item to be taken up during the IPCC meeting is the issues of the HEC and similar bodies in the post-18th constitutional amendment scenario.
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The meeting decided that the provincial government would strengthen its provincial HEC. The federal HEC can finance the universities in the province, but through the provincial HEC, it was suggested. This was the stance of the Sindh government. Otherwise, it is of the view that the federal HEC has seized to exist.
The IPCC would also discuss the import of liquefied natural gas. Shah also emphasised the need to introduce reforms in the gas sector and said there should a regulatory body in which the provincial government should have due representation.
The other items to be discussed during the meeting are supply of gas to localities/villages in a five kilometre radius of gas producing fields.
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