-Says Sindh facing dictatorship under the guise of democracy
-Seeks utilization record of Rs. 1800 bln given to Sindh govt in two years
-Reminds implementation of Article 140-A in Sindh
-Holds provincial govt responsible for Sindh’s derelict condition
From Zeeshan Mirza
KARACHI: Federal Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry took a dig at the PPP, the ruling party in Sindh, on Sunday, saying that the funds given to the provincial government by the Centre ended up either in Dubai, Canada or Europe.
He was alluding to money laundering cases filed against PPP leaders, including the party’s co-chairperson, Asif Ali Zardari, and his sister, Faryal Talpur.
Addressing a press conference in Karachi, the federal minister held Sindh’s rulers responsible for what he dubbed as the province’s derelict condition, claiming that they were, in fact, Sindh’s enemies and that their days were numbered.
“There is no democracy here [in Sindh]. Here, there is a dictatorship under the guise of democracy and that is why people here have been deprived of their rights,” he said, questioning where the funds given for the province’s uplift were spent as no improvements were visible.
The minister said PTI-led federal government has transferred 1800 billion rupees to the Sindh government during the past two years and asked as to where the money was utilized and why it is not being spent on Karachi’s uplift.
“Under the 18th Amendment, it is the responsibility of the provincial government, and our responsibility ends after the release of funds,” said Chaudhry, pointing out that Rs700-750 billion, excluding grants, had been allocated for Sindh in the budget for the fiscal year 2021-22.
However, he said, the need was felt to monitor the expenditure of funds issued to the Sindh government and the federal government planned to do so through a third party. “In the first phase, funds for projects under PSDP (Public Sector Development Programme) will
be monitored and this will be a big step towards giving relief to the people of Sindh,” the minister said. Electoral reforms: Earlier in the press briefing, Chaudhry, while commenting on proposed electoral reforms that have been a point of contention between the government and the opposition of late, explained that the former’s intention was to devise a mechanism trusted by all parties and no doubts were raised on election results.
“We have proposed 49 amendments in parliament for the purpose, but now, instead of discussing and giving their suggestions in parliament, the opposition has announced that it will call an APC (all parties conference),” he said. “This will weaken parliament and this will weaken democracy.”
He said that the PPP, as well the PML-N, no longer acted as a national party, but as a regional party. “But their the PPP’s days are numbered and the PTI will win the next election in Sindh,” he said, assuring that Prime Minister Imran Khan would himself lead the election campaign in Sindh in 2023. In reply to a question about him urging the Supreme Court to enforce Article 140-A of the Constitution in Sindh, he said it was necessary for the formation of the provincial financial commission, and in turn, for the devolution of power to the district level and the people of the province.
