Sindh faces triple jeopardy: Murad Ali Shah

Says PML-N punishing province with power cut, reduced water supply and funding freeze

KARACHI: The federal government run by the PML-N has unleashed political persecution against Sindh, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said on Thursday.

Addressing a crowded press conference in his chamber in the Sindh Assembly, he said that the federal government was mounting a three-pronged attack against the people of Sindh.

The PML-N government, he said, was penalising Sindh by resorting to prolonged power outages, creating water shortages during the Rabi crop season and abnormal delays in transferring federal funds to the province.

This, he said, had not only affected day-to-day life in the province, but also crippling its agro-industrial economy.

Referring to prolonged power outages, the chief minister said over the past few months, he had repeatedly drawn the prime minister's attention towards the SSGC and K-Electric dispute which had exacerbated the availability of electricity in Karachi.

Industrialists, he said, were being forced to shut down their units.
Quoting the prime minister, Murad Ali Shah said that he (the PM) had called both entities – SSGC and K-Electric.

He said that instead of resolving the dispute, the prime minister deputed Miftah Ismail to settle the row.

The Sindh chief minister said that when he called Miftah Ismail, his cellphone was playing a message that he was out of the country.
Citing SSGC claims, Murad Ali Shah said that the KE owed Rs29 billion in dues because of which the gas company had cut the supply from 276 mmcfd to 90 mmcfd, resulting in the shutdown of four gas-powered plants of KE creating power outages lasting more than 12 hours.

According to the chief minister, of the total amount owed by the KE to SSGC, Rs13 billion was the principal amount while the remainder was late payment surcharge and interest.

The KE, he maintained, was ready to clear its previous dues in installments with full current payment for the gas supply. He pointed out that the court had also directed the SSGC to supply 276 mmcfd gas to KE.



The dispute, he said, was between the SSGC, whose 73 per cent share was owned by the federal government and the KE, an entity where the Centre held 24 per cent share.

He said that the federal government should get the dispute settled
"Why is the federal government penalising the people of Karachi?" the chief minister wondered.

Power outages, Murad Ali Shah said, were also affecting water supply in Karachi.

Referring to blackouts in rural Sindh, the chief minister said that Shaheed Benazirabad suffered power outages lasting 16 hours, Sukkur 14 hours, Mirpurkhas 12 hours, Larkana 16 hours, Hyderabad 14 hours, and Jamshoro (his home district) 18 hours.

This demonstrates the intensity of the federal government's vendetta against the people of Sindh. "Because they have been voting the PPP to power since 1970s," he said.
Shortfall in fed transfers:

The chief minister said that so far the federal government had withheld Rs94 billion, creating serious financial problems for the provincial government.

"This is why development expenditure has been cut…We cannot curtail salary expenditure," he said.

Blaming the federal government for not achieving tax recovery targets, Murad Ali Shah said that Sindh government was highly likely to achieve its collection targets. "Sindh Revenue Board (SRB) and provincial Excise and Taxation department will achieve all recovery targets," he maintained.

In a bid to deter people from staging a sit-in at the Chief Minister's House, he said: "You have every right to protest against non-availability of utility services but I would invite all political parties to stage a grand sit-in in front of the PM House … I will be with you."
Water Shortage

Dismissing IRSA's assertion that Sindh would suffer a water shortage of 20 per cent, the chief minister said that the actual water shortage during the Rabi crop season had touched 36 per cent.

"I don't know if the water shortage was caused by natural elements or because of theft," he said.

NAB raids

Referring to a question about NAB's raid on the Local Government Department, Murad Ali Shah said that the provincial government would never create hurdles in curbing corruption but there should be a fair legal system for initiating inquiries and conducting raids.

"Junior officers raided the office of a grade 20 officer – the secretary of local government – snatched his personal cell phone, insulted him and took away files besides taking his PS into custody.

"I directed the chief secretary to get in touch with the DG NAB," he said, adding that the DG NAB had tendered apology for the unruly behavior of his subordinate staff and promised to return everything they had taken away.

"Nothing has so far been returned."