Jogging the peoples' memory of the centre-led anti-dacoit operation in Sindh in the 1990s, Federal Minister Asad Umar has underlined the need for another round of federal intervention to restore law and order in the upper Sindh region.
“The first report which I am going to submit to the prime minister is about the law and order situation in Sindh,” the minister said while addressing a reception and talking to the media in Shikarpur district on Monday.
“The lives and assets [are] not protected. The people of Shikarpur, Ghotki, Jacobabad, Sukkur and other districts have been deprived of their sense of security.”
Umar was referring to the increasing number of cases of kidnapping for ransom, robberies and killing in the districts of Larkana and Sukkur divisions. “The people are being suppressed through the daku raaj [rule of dacoits].”
He told that he will urge the PM that on part of the centre he should take responsibility for restoring the law and order in that part of Sindh. “Don’t worry, no governor rule is going to be imposed,” he clarified, reiterating that for protection of the lives and assets the PM will have to take the responsibility.
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Umar did not elaborate how the centre will intervene to tackle the security matter, which is under purview of the province after the 18th constitutional amendment. However, he hinted that like the centre helped the province during Covid-19 situation and the lockdown by providing medical supplies and financial support, a similar approach will be adopted for the security.
“Among responsibilities of the government the foremost onus is about protecting lives and assets of the people.” But, Umar said whenever PTI’s government took up the matters of cruel means of rule by the Pakistan Peoples Party’s Sindh government, the latter tried to defend its actions through the 18th Amendment. He blamed the provincial government for politicising the coronavirus immunisation campaign. He rebutted the Sindh government’s assertion that Sindh will be the first province to inoculate its population against the virus. “Sindh doesn’t have the vaccine. Centre is providing vaccine to the province.” He said the provincial government should feel ashamed of politicising the sensitive issue.
Umar informed that he is collecting proposals for development projects in the districts of Sukkur and Larkana divisions. He added that will put forward those proposals before the PM who will personally visit and announce the selected development projects.
The minister recalled that when the people were being deprived of their livelihood during the coronavirus-prompted lockdown last year, PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was demanding further tightening of the lockdown while Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah used to say no one dies of hunger. But, he said, PM Imran Khan realised the problems of poverty and hunger and launched the historic financial grant scheme under which in two months Rs200 billion were distributed among the people including Rs65 billion in Sindh.
Responding to a question, he argued that inflation has been brought under control. Referring to the ever increasing rates of wheat flour, he held the Sindh government responsible for the situation. According to him, 20 kilogrammes of flour is being sold at Rs860 in Punjab. But the price for the same quantity ranged between Rs1,150 to Rs1,250 in Sindh. “Sindh government should be asked to explain what’s the reason for Rs300 to Rs400 difference [in 20 kg price of flour].” He underlined that flour is among the most necessary food items.
When asked to comment that why do the people of Sindh not trust PM Khan, the minister replied that no other province in Pakistan is more ready for change than Sindh, suggesting that the question was factually unfounded. According to him, the Sindh government had given its word about devolving power to the local governments during discussions among the PTI, PPP and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan’s leaders over the Karachi package. “They said an amendment in the local government act would take time so they are ready to issue an executive order.” However, he lamented, six months have passed without any development in this regard.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 2nd, 2021.
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