Murad censures PM’s decision to give citizenship to ‘aliens’

He warned that Sindh government will resist PM's decision at various platforms

KARACHI: Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah criticised Prime Minister Imran Khan's decision to give citizenship to "aliens" and warned him to avoid this illegal act or else Sindh government will resist the decision at various platforms.

Addressing a post-budget press conference in the Sindh Assembly on Tuesday, the CM said, "The Constitution does not allow granting citizenship to illegal immigrants. I wonder how the prime minister of our country has issued such a statement," and added, "It looks like the prime minister has given this political statement in a public rally. I suggest him to please come out of jalsa politics and run the government properly."



Shah also said that issuance of computerised national identity cards to aliens including Afghans and Bengalis would be a breach of law. Not only illegal immigrants, but CM also took a censured stand against the Kalabagh Dam project referring to it as a "dead horse". CM Shah, however, supported Bhash Dam and said that it was the Pakistan Peoples Party government that had approved the dam's construction in 2009. "We can't support Kalabagh Dam come what may," he said, adding that there were "ulterior motives" behind the Kalabagh Dam project wherefrom two canals have been designed to irrigate agriculture land of a particular area. CM Shah, who was flanked by Barrister Murtaza Wahab and other officials of finance and planning development, added that three provincial assemblies of Pakistan - Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan - have passed the resolution against this controversial dam and this issue should be buried permanently. "Federal government must consult the provinces on sensitive issues," the CM opined.

Referring to the provincial budget for the remaining nine months of the fiscal year, he said that the development budget of the province was cut by Rs24 billion because of financial constraints caused due to shortfall in federal transfers. "Federal government not only avoided releasing funds of our share, but has started cutting Sindh's share in Federal Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP). They have cut around Rs49b from our due share," he remarked.

According to the CM, this issue was raised before the prime minister during his recent visit to Karachi and the grievances of Sindh government over transfer and postings of bureaucrats in Sindh were conveyed. "I drew PM's attention towards transfer and postings of senior officers in Sindh and he has assured that this will never happen again," said Shah.

When asked about the new schemes in the budget, the CM added that Sindh government's top priority will be to complete the on-going schemes. However, he said that some new projects have been included in the budget on the recommendation of the judicial commission on water and sanitation. "Despite the financial constraints, we have allocated around Rs5b for K-IV project to provide water to the residents of Karachi," he said.



No new vehicles

During the press conference, the CM announced not to purchase government vehicles except for police mobiles and ambulances. "All luxury cars or vehicles purchased by Sindh government were before me," Shah said, adding that he had serious security threats which is why he purchased a bullet proof vehicle from his own pocket. "I use this vehicle since the time I was provincial minister," he said, clarifying his position.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 19^th, 2018.