Sindh accepts SC order on local bodies: CM

ISLAMABAD:

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Tuesday said the provincial government would accept the order of the Supreme Court to devolve powers to the local bodies under Article 140-A of the Constitution.

Talking to reporters after appearing before the accountability court for hearing of the Nooriabad power plant reference, the chief minister said that the order on the petition regarding local bodies had come on the last day of Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed in office.

Earlier in the day, while giving its ruling on a petition filed by the MQM-P in 2013 against the Sindh Local Government Act 2013, the top court, said, “The Sindh government is bound to create autonomous local bodies under Article 140-A of the Constitution of Pakistan.”

Read: Sindh told to devolve powers, empower LGs

Article 140-A relates to the local government. It says: “Each province shall, by law, establish a local government system and devolve political, administrative and financial responsibility and authority to the elected representatives of the local governments.”

To a query, Murad said, “The chief justice of the Supreme Court has issued the order regarding the local bodies “on his last day [in office]. We will accept the order regarding [the Article] 140A [of the Constitution].”

Murad criticised the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) over attempts to make the 18th Amendment controversial. “The 18th Amendment is being made controversial. The 18th Amendment strengthens the Federation. It was a unanimous decision of all parties,” he said.

Gas shortage

The chief minister pointed out that coal deposits had been discovered in Thar Coal Block 1. “We will generate electricity from Thar coal and provide it to the whole of Pakistan. Tharparkar will also be developed,” he added.

On gas shortage in the country, the chief minister said that Sindh was the most-affected province by the gas shortage. “Gas crisis is created by the [incumbent] government. This incompetent government did not buy LNG (liquefied natural gas) on time,” he added.

He said that the gas crisis would only be overcome when these incompetents were out. “The time is not far off when [the people] will get rid of this incompetent government,” he added.

To a question about the passage of the State Bank of Pakistan bill from the Senate, the chief minister said that the other opposition parties, like the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Awami National Party, were also present in the house at that time.

Read More: Govt propagating against PPP, says Bilawal

“At midnight, the bill was included in the [session’s] agenda,” he said. “Such bills enslave the nations. It is deeply concerning that the Senate chairman used his vote to accept slavery of the IMF (International Monetary Fund).”

Murad said that the provincial government was working with the National Command and Operation Centre to control the spread of Covid-19. “The positivity rate has been brought down to 20% in Karachi, however, the current situation is extremely dangerous.”

Earlier, accountability court judge Syed Asghar Ali heard the Nooriabad power plant reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against Murad and others. During the hearing, co-accused Abdul Ghani Majeed, Agha Wasif, Najamul Hasnain and others filed acquittal pleas.

The judge sought a reply from NAB on the acquittal pleas. NAB Prosecutor Wasim Javed informed the court that details of the assets of co-accused Muhammad Ali were being collected. He added that so far, only one bank account’s details of the accused had been found. The hearing was adjourned till Feb 28.