CM Murad, other officials pay homage to Quaid on Independence Day

Shah urges United Nations to play its role to stop Indian atrocities in IOK

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that Indian aggression and atrocities in occupied Kashmir are a threat to peace in the region, therefore the United Nations must summon its session and make efforts to stop the killing of innocent Kashmiri people, including women and children.

This he said on Wednesday while talking to media after paying homage to Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah by laying a floral wreath on his grave, offering Fateha and recording his impressions in the visitors' book.

He said that the killing of innocent people in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) and denying their rights were sheer violations of UN resolutions.

"We have to forge and demonstrate national unity to expose the Indian aggression to the International community," he said, adding that the Indian government has banned media coverage in IOK.

He termed the statement [of the foreign minister] that 'we may not be welcomed in United Nations' as a manifestation of `giving up' much before contesting the case.  He recalled that when Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had taken the case of Indian aggression in the United Nations, he was all alone and had no international support but with his statesmanship and political wisdom, he garnered international support and pleaded the case vigorously.

In response to a question, he said that the federal government, in violation of human rights and jail manual, shifted the ailing Faryal Talpur from the hospital to Adiyala Jail late at night. The chief minister termed it a dictatorial attitude.

To another question, Shah said that despite heavy rains he, his cabinet members, the city administration, local bodies and civic agencies remained on the roads for days, including on the eve of Eidul Azha to help people. "We managed to drain water from the roads and low-lying areas of Madras Society, Scheme 33, Yousuf Goth of District West and Sindhi Muslim Society," he said.

To another question, Mr Shah said that the water accumulated in front of KMC head office was drained by the Sindh government. "All of us, including the Karachi mayor, worked hard," he admitted, adding that he will not do politics and play the blame game on the civic service in Karachi.

Tribute to Quaid

The CM said the Quaid-e-Azam was a great statesman and true leader who liberated the Muslims of the subcontinent from the hegemony of the Hindus and gave them a separate homeland. "Now it is our duty to protect this beloved country from our enemies and work hard for its prosperity," he said.

He laid a floral wreath on the grave, offered Fateha and recorded his impressions in the visitors' book. He then went to the courtyard of the mausoleum where diplomats of different countries were seated.

Sindh Police chief IGP Dr Kaleem Imam, along with top officials of the Sindh Police, also paid a visit to the Quaid's mausoleum on Wednesday. The police officials offered Fateha and laid floral wreaths on the grave of the Quaid-e-Azam.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 15^th, 2019.