PM Imran mollycoddles allies from Sindh

PM vows to take action against mafia behind inflation

KARACHI: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday assured the government’s coalition partners from Sindh of addressing their grievances, in addition to agreeing to the Sindh government’s demand for the appointment of a new inspector general of police.

Surprisingly, no delegation from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) met the prime minister during his day-long trip to the provincial metropolis. Political pundits have been describing the MQM-P’s refusal to meet the prime minister in the city where it holds political sway as “snubbing” him.

The party holds the crucial number of lawmakers to keep the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government afloat at the Centre. Sources said the PTI leadership has decided to hold a meeting with the MQM-P in Islamabad in coming days.

Moreover, media while citing the MQM-P reported that there was no meeting scheduled between the prime minister and the coalition partner during his visit to Karachi.

During his daylong trip to the metropolis, the prime minister distributed cheques among successful applicants of the Kamyab Jawan Programme – the government’s national youth development programme – at a ceremony at the Governor’s House.

The highlight of the prime minister’s meeting with the chief minister was the posting of a new inspector general of the Sindh police (IGP). Sources privy to the development told The Express Tribune that Imran and Shah agreed in principle to transfer the incumbent IGP Dr Kaleem Imam.

The meeting came on the heels of a tug-of-war between the PPP-led Sindh government and the PTI-led federal government over the removal of the IGP Dr Kaleem Imam. Last week, Chief Minister Shah wrote a letter to Prime Minister Imran, proposing three names for posting as the new IGP.

“The decision about the new IGP would be taken on the recommendation of the Sindh government. Very soon the establishment division in Islamabad will issue notification,” said a source, after the meeting between Imran and Shah.

The prime minister also visited Pir Pagara, the head of the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA). After the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-e-Azam (PML-Q) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), the GDA had also expressed reservations over being neglected by the federal government that is why the prime minister visited them, a senior PTI leader said.

Though there was no official word on the outcome of the talks at the Kingri House – the residence of Pir Pagara – a source said that Prime Minister Imran assured the GDA chief of the resolution of their grievances.

“The issue of federal government’s funds for Sindh, share in government jobs and especially MQM’s bill in the National Assembly to carve out another province in Sindh were discussed in the meeting,” the senior PTI leader said, on condition of anonymity.

During the meeting, GDA leader Ayaz Latif Palijo, who also heads the Qaumi Awami Tahreek, raised the issues of the issuance of identity cards to illegal immigrants, provision of contaminated water for drinking purpose and discrimination to Sindh in the federal government jobs and other federal schemes.

Pir Pagara drew the prime minister’s attention to bad governance in the province. “For the past 11 years, people of Sindh have not heaved a sigh of relief. Our education, health, hospitals are deteriorating with each passing day,” a source quoted the GDA chief as saying.

“We are fed-up with provincial government policies and request you to come forward and resolve Sindh’s basic issues,” he said. The prime minister nominated Planning Minister Asad Umar as the focal person to resolve the GDA’s issue.

Kamyab Jawan Programme

The prime minister said action would be taken against the mafia which was behind the inflation and made money in the process.

"We can improve all departments up to international standard by only following merit," he said while addressing a distribution ceremony of loan cheques under the Kamyab Naujawan Programme at the Sindh Governor House.

Imran cited the example of Australia promoting sports talent through pursuing merit which made it proud with its players bringing laurels. He recalled that in the era of 1960s, Pakistan's bureaucracy was at the top in Asia because of the best examination and evaluation system, which had produced the best officials.

He asked the chairman of PM's Youth Programme, Usman Dar, to pursue merit in the Kamyab Naujawan Programme. The youth having good business ideas should be provided financing, he stressed.

The prime minister said Pakistan was the second youngest nation in the world. "We are investing in our youth as we believe that they have a passion to work hard and will take the country forward."

He said China had invested around 30 years ago in poverty alleviation and with making rapid economic growth, it was now a developed country.

He said his government had allocated Rs 200 billion under the Ehsaas Programme for the betterment of poor and deserving sections in the society.

Imran said he had dreams about playing Test cricket for Pakistan, become a world number one all-rounder, make Pakistan cricket champion and build cancer hospitals in the country. He had turned all the dreams into reality with sheer hard work and consistent struggle, he added.

He said the people made fun of him when he had joined politics around 15 years ago. Now he had a dream to make Pakistan a welfare state as per the visions of Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal and Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, he added.

He advised the youth to follow the teachings and life of Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) to achieve success in their lives.

He said the Holy Prophet (PBUH) after a hard struggle for 13 years founded the State of Madina and then faced further hardships. The state, which was established by the Prophet (PBUH) after passing through tough phases, had become the best example to be emulated by the entire world, he added.

The prime minister advised the youth to face a tough time with courage and not to give up because every successful man learnt from the hard times. He always told his cabinet members not to panic in the tough times and instead get a lesson to go ahead, he added.

(With additional input from Agencies)