PPP to resist interventions challenging Constitution, democracy: Murad

Centre needs to hold CCI meetings regularly to resolve issues between provinces and federation, he stresses

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) would oppose any kind of intervention that challenged the Constitution and the principles of democracy.

"We are a democratic party and we believe in democracy, which is evident by the fact that our leaders sacrificed their lives for the cause of democracy," said CM Shah, while talking to media persons after attending the graduation ceremony of the Senior Management Course at the National Institute of Management (NIM) on Friday.

Responding to a question, Shah credited Zulfikar Ali Bhutto for formulating a constitution that was unanimously approved and based on democratic principles, adding that it is everybody's responsibility to ensure that it was followed in letter and spirit.

When asked about the judgment issued in the Pervez Musharraf treason case, the CM said that if the ruling was believed to be flawed, then there were relevant forums that could be approached to address the problem. He stressed that controversies needed to be avoided as the country was going through a crucial phase, however, adding that political parties were capable enough to steer the nation out of the quagmire.

Sindh CM vows to resolve water distribution issue

Responding to another question, Shah confirmed his attendance at the Council of Common Interests (CCI) meeting, scheduled on December 23. Elaborating further, he said that there were several issues that were the bone of contention between the federal and provincial governments, as well as between the provinces, which the Centre needed to address at the CCI meeting and resolve in accordance with the Legislative List Part-II. The CM said that the federal government was holding weekly meetings to find solutions for various issued faced by the Centre, and similarly, it needed to convene CCI meetings every three to four months to address issues between the provinces and the federation.

Outlining issues that he intended to raise at the meeting, he maintained that according to Article 158 of the Constitution, people of the province from where natural gas and oil were sourced had the first and foremost right on these resources. "I will make sure that this is established at the CCI meeting," he added. To add to it, issues pertaining to the recovery of Rs7 billion deducted from the provincial consolidated fund, approval for the installation of a power plant on Chashma-Jhelum Link Canal and construction of Jamshoro-Sehwan road at a snail's pace by the federal government despite Sindh having paid 50% of its share of the expenses about two and a half years ago, will be raised at the meeting, the CM said.

Responding to another question, Shah brushed also brushed aside the impression of having received a message from Prime Minister Imran Khan, adding that he hoped to meet him at the CCI meeting and that the meeting wouldn't be postponed.

Address at NIM

Earlier, the CM addressed the graduation ceremony at NIM, where he emphasised that the "friction that has emerged between different segments in the country needs to be reduced." He further said, "Pakistan is facing economic and governance issues [and] therefore, at this juncture, the growing friction can prove to be detrimental to the country."

PTI demands CM Murad's resignation

Addressing the graduates, the CM said that having gone through the training the course imparted, they had qualified to be promoted to the posts of grade 20 officers, adding that they needed to "make sure that they follow the rules and regulations describing an officer's conduct." He said that relevant laws clearly state what should be an officer's conduct while in service and his behaviour towards his seniors, juniors and the masses. "If you follow them [the laws], you will be able to perform better," he added.

The CM congratulated the graduates and urged them to serve the nation with a new spirit, no matter where they are posted. He also distributed degrees among the graduating officers.

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