KARACHI (Dec 25): Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah stated that democracy thrives on dialogue, if we can engage in dialogue with an enemy country, then we should also engage with those involved in the May 9 incident, as we see them as Pakistani citizens.
“It is important to address those who have been misled and help them change their perspectives.”
He said this on Wednesday while talking to the media at Mazar-e-Quaid, where he was joined by his cabinet members to pay tribute to Pakistan’s founder, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
At the outset of his media talk, Mr Shah congratulated the nation on the occasion of Quaid-e-Azam’s 148th birth anniversary. He also extended Christmas greetings to the Christian community, recalling Quaid-e-Azam’s speech on August 11, 1947: “This country was founded with freedom for all religions to worship in their places of worship.”
Mr. Shah emphasized that Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Jinnah created Pakistan and highlighted the importance of protecting the country from external conspiracies, in line with Quaid’s vision. “With Allah’s blessings, we will make Pakistan a peaceful and prosperous nation for future generations,” he stated, adding that the prosperity of the nation lies in unity.
The Chief Minister underscored the need to remember the sacrifices of martyrs. “Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto made Pakistan a nuclear power, and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto strengthened the country’s defence through missile technology,” he recalled.
The CM honoured the sacrifices made by Pakistan’s armed forces and police while protecting the borders and combating terrorism. He noted that the martyrs of democracy asserted that democracy returned to the country at the cost of their blood, making it precious to the people of Pakistan.
Murad Ali Shah mentioned that under the leadership of President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the country is moving out of economic, political, and social problems, and law and order conditions are also improving.
Mr Shah condemned Israel’s brutality in Palestine and called upon the Islamic world and all nations to work towards ending oppression in Palestine and Kashmir. He warned that the impact of the Palestine war and atrocities in Kashmir affect the entire region, making it imperative for the international community to take serious action to end genocide and atrocities for a peaceful world.
In response to a question, Mr Shah stated that Sindh has always been a land of peace and will continue to be, InshaAllah. Regarding the issue of illegal immigration, the Chief Minister acknowledged unity between federal and provincial governments to deport illegal residents.
When asked about the murder of Zahid Mirani by an illegal Afghan resident, he recalled that during the previous government (PTI), a general amnesty was announced for Afghans, after which the Sindh government identified their criminal records and deported them. “The Sindh government believes that the murder of an innocent person is the murder of humanity, and we have never allowed any killer to go unpunished,” he stated, adding, “Oppressors will face justice, and we share the sorrow of the victims.”
Mr Shah dismissed allegations of government inaction, asserting that his administration has always upheld the rights of the people in the province. “Whenever issues arise, it is the PPP’s government in Sindh that advocates for Sindh’s interests at the forefront,” he said.
Murad Ali Shah revealed that the federal government allocated Rs. 180 billion for development schemes in Sindh this year but criticised delays in fund disbursement. He noted that last year’s allocation had dropped to only Rs. 5 to 6 billion, stating, “I’ve officially complained about this to the federal government.”
He also expressed concern about the federal government not convening meetings of constitutional institutions such as the CCI.
Discussing incomplete projects, Mr Shah mentioned the Jamshoro-Sehwan road, which was approved in 2017. Despite Sindh contributing half of the funding to the federal government in April 2017, the project remains unfinished.
He reiterated his demands for federal funding to complete other projects, including the Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway, lamenting that the Karachi-Hyderabad Road was built through a public-private partnership, while similar highway projects in other provinces received federal funding through CPEC initiatives. “This discrimination began during Imran Khan’s tenure,” he said.
Mr. Shah commended Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, stating that the Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway could not be constructed under the PPP model due to time constraints, while his ministers insisted it would proceed. Ultimately, the project failed to materialise because they could not secure financial backing.
The Chief Minister urged the federal government to construct the Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway using federal funds or Chinese funding, stressing that it is not only a provincial road but also vital for all commercial traffic from the seaport and industrial areas to the north. “Industrialists from Lahore approached me and urged me to construct the Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway,” he said.
He discussed Sindh’s limited resources and its challenges in financing large-scale projects independently yet noted that his government has still constructed some federal roads, such as the Karachi-Thatta dual carriageway and provided 50 per cent of the funding for the Jamshoro-Sehwan road.
In a lighter moment, responding to the Sindh Governor, Murad Ali Shah confidently asserted that Karachi belongs to him. “After requesting Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, I secured federal support for Karachi’s water projects, including the Rs. 25 billion K-IV. He explained that the lining of the KB Feeder, essential for K-IV, is a Rs. 40 billion project, with equal contributions from both Sindh and the federal government.”
Earlier, the chief minister laid a floral wreath on the Mazar of the Father of the Nation, offered dua, and recorded his impressions in the visitors’ book opened on the birthday celebration of the Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.
