‘Zardari using provincial autonomy in defence of his corruption'

Says PTI provincial leader MPA Haleem Adil Shaikh

HYDERABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf provincial leader MPA Haleem Adil Shaikh has said Pakistan Peoples Party Co-chairperson Asif Ali Zadari is using the term provincial autonomy as a defence against his corruption. The rejoinder to Zardari's assertion regarding a looming threat to the 18th constitutional amendment came at a press conference in Nawabshah on Sunday.



"The 18th amendment was made to strengthen provincial autonomy and not to allow unfettered bribery, strengthen the corruption mafia and hide their crimes," said Shaikh. He alleged that the corruption mafia has embezzled billions of rupees in Sindh, specifically accusing Omni Group of Anwar Majeed of benefiting the most.

"Whenever the noose is tightened around Majeed, Zardari cries out," Shaikh said, adding that Majeed was practically turned into the viceroy of Sindh and Zardari's sister, MPA Faryal Talpur, whose veiled reference he made as "aunty-corruption", handed over the whole province to Majeed as his fiefdom.

Shaikh said the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has been investigating corruption cases against several provincial ministers and many PPP MPAs, who all are trying to escape their arrest by getting bails from the courts. "But very soon, Zardari and his company will be behind bars."



The PTI's leader said 562 officers of the Sindh government who signed plea bargains with the NAB were later unlawfully allowed to return to their jobs.

Shaikh held the PPP's government responsible for the deaths of children in Tharparkar and the hunger, poverty and malnutrition that has also gripped other parts of the province.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, October 29^th, 2018.