Ismail denies possibility of governor’s rule in Sindh

Says no one from the government has even discussed the option with him

HYDERABAD: Sindh Governor Imran Ismail has put to rest the political rumours about the installation of governor's rule in the province by breaking the provincial assembly. "There is no proposal under the consideration of the federal government to impose governor's rule in Sindh," Ismail said while talking to media at the residence of Grand Democratic Alliance General Secretary Ayaz Latif Palijo, in Hyderabad on Saturday.

He said that no one from the government has even discussed the option of installing governor's rule with him. However, he did not rule out a change of government in Sindh, hinting towards the constitutional way of proving majority in a provincial assembly.

"Like the opposition's no-confidence move to remove the senate chairman is not undemocratic or unethical rather it's a democratic process, similarly this process can be done in any province," he said. "Where someone has a majority, they may prove it to bring the change."

Ismail reassured that there is no chance of him acting as the province's chief executive, citing Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan's statement during his visit to Karachi over the issue. Lamenting over the shortage of water in Sindh, the governor said he will take up the matter with the PM and will ask him that the centre fulfill its obligations.

"Sindh should receive its due share of water from Indus River System Authority (IRSA)," he asserted and assured that he will request the PM to stop any federal official who is responsible for the unjust water distribution.

He acknowledged that the water scarcity has become an acute problem in the coastal districts of Sindh, which are the lowest riparian of Indus River. "Sindh is producing over 67% of the natural gas [in the country] and gas load shedding in Sindh is an injustice [with the province]."

He told that the federal budget has earmarked Rs42.5 billion for Sindh's development projects and the schemes for Karachi and Hyderabad, which were earlier announced by the PM, have also been allocated funds. He added that an agreement has been signed with the real estate tycoon Malik Riaz for establishing a university in Hyderabad.

Referring to Sindh government's complaints about a drastic reduction in the release of National Finance Commission (NFC) award funds from the Center, the governor said the NFC is often discussed but the mention of provincial finance commission is always omitted. In an oblique criticism over the Pakistan Peoples Party-led Sindh government, he said the HIV is spreading, locusts are attacking crops, children are dying in Tharparkar and minority girls do not feel safe in Sindh. Ismail said Sindh is the only province which refused to assist the Center in distribution of the health cards.

The GDA's Palijo said the PPP wants to hold PTI accountable for its 10-month rule but the party's leadership is evading their own accountability for their 23-year rule in different tenures. He said that accountability process will remain questionable if all the corrupt elements in Sindh are not brought to the book.

"When the corrupt elements are arrested they began crying that democracy is in danger." He told the governor that the people of Sindh want repatriation of Afghanis, Bengalis and Biharis whom they consider a burden on the province's weak economy and a security threat.

He asked the Center to take notice of the issuance of the national identity cards to Afghanis and Bengalis. Palijo also asked the federal government to do justice with Sindh in the distribution of Indus River's water and supply of electricity.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 21^st, 2019.