Murad Ali Shah scorns Shehbaz's promises for Sindh

PML-N tried to shift industries from Karachi to Punjab, alleges former chief minister

KARACHI: The Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N), which refused to give Sindh its due share of water, power and National Finance Commission Award during its last tenure, is now making irrational promises of turning Karachi into Paris.

Former Sindh chief minister and Pakistan Peoples Party leader Murad Ali Shah said this in response to PML-N head Shehbaz Sharif's speeches that he made during his election campaign in the city on Monday.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the former Sindh CM accused the PML-N of completely ignoring Sindh when it was in power in the federal government.

"We had requested the federal government to give separate share of water to Karachi because people from all over Pakistan are living here but they rejected our request in the CCI [Council of Common Interests] meeting," Shah said, adding that "now Shehbaz Sharif is claiming he can provide water to the people of Karachi within next three years".



Shah went on to say that the PML-N government carried out prolonged gas load-shedding in Karachi under a conspiracy so that industrial units operating in the city could be shifted to Punjab. "The PML-N government tried to destroy industrial economy of the province but it was [the] PPP government which fought the case of industrialists and controlled the gas load-shedding to some extent," he said.

According to Shah, after trying to destroy industries of Karachi, Shehbaz was ironically promising to bring an industrial revolution in Sindh.

When the PML-N leadership goes out of power, its heart starts pumping for the people of Sindh, the former CM alleged. "The people of Sindh are well aware of the anti-Sindh policies of PML-N leadership," he said, adding that the PML-N government completed mega projects for Lahore but totally ignored Karachi, despite the fact that the port city generated huge revenues for the federal government.

"Yes, after our hue and cry you [PML-N government] finally gave Karachi only one BRT Green Bus project but again it fell victim to your disinterest. It has not been completed in four years - this is the attitude of the PML-N leadership," Shah retorted.



Censuring the PML-N head for his claim that the PML-N government eliminated load-shedding in the country, the former Sindh CM said he was dumbfounded at the suggestion. "Has he (Shehbaz) ever visited rural areas of Sindh where 18 to 19 hour load-shedding [takes place]."

Shah also accused the former PML-N federal government of overcharging power consumers. The Hyderabad Electric Supply Company and other power companies are sending inflated bills to the poor, he lamented, calling it a contribution of the PML-N government.

The PPP leader also reproached the former PML-N government for its economic policies that resulted in the worst-ever devaluation of the rupee against the dollar. "You [PML-N government] were giving artificial oxygen to the economy which did not lost long, and after devaluation of the rupee, the economy has suffered a huge set back," Shah said. "You are claiming to have broken the begging bowl! As a matter of fact, your policies have broken the backs of poor people."

In the conclusion of his statement, the former Sindh CM alleged that the PML-N paid only lip service to the targeted operation in Karachi and did not share the cost of the operation as promised by then prime minister Nawaz Sharif.