No in-house changes in Sindh, Ismail says

PPP ‘using 18th Amendment issue as political stunt’

ISLAMABAD: Sindh Governor Imran Ismail has rejected speculation that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government is trying to orchestrate a political change in the province, while accusing the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) of trying to pull off a political stunt by making an issue over the 18th Amendment.

He said this while addressing the media in Islamabad after a ceremony that was jointly organised by the PTI and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) in honour of Ismail’s services for the establishment of Hyderabad University.

PPP, in power in Sindh province, has accused the ruling PTI of trying to destablise its government by trying to forge up alliances in the province and of carrying out politically motivated investigations against its party leadership, including the Sindh chief minister.

Ismail said that the PTI was not against the 18th Amendment and believed in devolution of power. He said the PPP was trying to raise the issue to stir controversy in order to regain its lost popularity in the province. “PTI has amassed a large number of votes in Sindh and the prime minister enjoys a strong following in the province,” he remarked.



Ismail also reiterated the federal government’s commitment to the development and prosperity of Sindh. He also dismissed rumours that the government was trying to bring about in-house changes in the province. On the establishment of Hyderabad University, he said it was the fulfillment of a years-long dream, and added that the government expects to have set up universities in Sukkur, Ghotki and Larkana.

He credited the prime minister for the successful execution of the project while also lauding the PTI and MQM for pursuing the idea.

On the issue of water, Ismail said that Sindh’s reservations regarding supply of water and gas were justified. He said that the PPP was also to blame for the situation, and added that it had failed to ensure provision of gas to mineral-rich Ghotki despite being in power for five years in the federal government and ten years in Sindh. “Nothing has been spent in Ghotki from the gas royalty it generates,” he said