PM violated constitution by not calling CCI meetings: CM Murad

He says that a committee was constituted during the PML-N government to review the implementation of the accord

HYDERABAD: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has accused Prime Minister Imran Khan of violating the Constitution of Pakistan by not calling quarterly meetings of the Council of Common Interests (CCI).  "Sindh hasn't been receiving its due share of water under the 1991 Water Accord and the Centre isn't showing any seriousness over this problem," said Shah while talking to the media in Thatta district on Wednesday.

He said that a committee was constituted during Pakistan Muslim Leauge-Nawaz's (PML-N) government to review the implementation of the accord. The committee has submitted its report which was supposed to be taken up in the CCI meeting scheduled for June this year. The meeting was postponed after the announcement of the schedule.



"PM is the chairman of the council and as per the Constitution, he has to call the CCI meeting after every three months." The PM chaired the last CCI meeting in September, 2018. Shah complained that the other three provinces are not cooperating with Sindh in asking the Centre to call the meeting. He said that he on his part has written to the Centre to hold the meeting.

Commenting on the war of words between Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan and Pak Sarzameen Party, the CM said that politics over garbage has been set in motion in Karachi. "Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) has also jumped in now."

He said that when the provincial government established Sindh Solid Waste Management Board, the quantum of garbage in Karachi was around 4,000 tons. At present, the quantity has tripled to 12,000 tons, he added.



He bemoaned that in their campaign to clean the city after July 29 monsoon rains, the PTI dumped solid waste on the roads after cleaning neighbourhoods and nullahs.

Shah said Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari, who is in custody of the National Accountability Bureau, is suffering from serious health conditions. He emphasised that he should immediately be shifted to a hospital.

He said the revenue authorities have been directed to expedite relief measures for the rain affected people of Thatta where thousands of people were marooned and displaced after August 10 rainfall. Shah said that the displaced people will be provided with tents and other necessary materials. 

Published in The Express Tribune, August 29^th, 2019.