CM’s replacement news a political conspiracy: Imtiaz

'We are a team and the chief minister is our captain,' says Sindh Energy Minister Imtiaz Ahmed Sheikh

KARACHI:

Sindh Energy Minister Imtiaz Ahmed Sheikh termed the news on social media about replacement of chief minister as a political conspiracy, saying that it had nothing to do with reality.

"We are a team and the chief minister is our captain," he said while addressing a press conference on Tuesday.

He said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has been lusting for power and still desires to achieve it. Imran's statements should not be given any importance," he said while referring to the utterance of the former PM regarding the appointment of the army chief.

Imtiaz Shaikh said that the procedure of appointing army chief is mentioned in the constitution and army chief cannot be appointed as per anyone's wish," he added.

He said that the leadership of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Sindh government are continuously working for the relief of the flood victims with the support and services of the armed forces, police, rangers, welfare associations and volunteers.

The energy minister said, "Flood affectees are our distressed brothers and sisters and it is our duty to help them."

Critising PTI on flood situation, the energy minister said that the leadership of PTI was making hollow claims of collecting billions of rupees. "If the money has been collected, why is it not being spent on the flood victims? Should this money be spent on politics instead of serving the flood victims like in the past?" he asked. He also asked why flood victims could not come to cities for shelter when Afghan settlements could be accommodated in Karachi.

He said that the money collected by the PTI in the name of flood victims was being spent on politics instead of serving the flood-hit people.

Imtiaz Sheikh said that the monopoly of K-Electric would end in 2023. "If there are more than one electricity supply company in Karachi, better facilities would be available to the citizens due to the trend of competition," he said.

He said that Dadu Grid Station remained safe during the flood, however, some electricity poles and supply lines were damaged.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 14^th, 2022.