29 December 2004	Wednesday	16 Ziqa'ad 1425

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ISLAMABAD Dec 28: Sindh Chief Minister Ghulam Arbab Rahim has defended the provincial government's decision of bifurcation of three districts of Sindh and asserted the selection of their headquarters was made purely on merit and no political expediency was involved in the whole process.

He was talking to newsmen after attending a top-level meeting here on Tuesday. The Sindh chief minister said some political elements were trying to give political colour to what he called was purely an administrative problem.

In reply to a question about the killing of four people in the Qambar Ali Khan district, the chief minister did not admit that the people killed in the incident were victims of police firing.

He, however, did not give further details on the subject, saying a judicial inquiry had been ordered into the incident and only after its completion he would be able to discuss the subject.

He said though the bifurcation of districts was purely a provincial subject he deemed it fit to take the federal government into confidence over the issue. He said the provincial government had arrested one of the most wanted hardened criminals of Sindh, Shoaib Khan.

He said the man was involved in several cases of murder, attempted murder and belonged to the underworld and was arrested by the Sindh police from Lahore on Tuesday.

In reply to a question on the National Finance Commission Award, the chief minister said the provincial finance minister had prepared a set of formulas for the NFC award and the prime minister will soon convene a meeting to get the NFC approved by consensus.