KARACHI, Jan 16: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim has said that MQM chief Altaf Hussain’s remarks in his address to the Sindhi media on Sunday were in fact compliments for him.

“I use to spend much time in offering prayers, and perform Haj and Umrahs for which I really feel proud,” he said.

“Altaf Hussain has not levelled any allegation of corruption immoral activities, nor did he accuse me of having committed atrocities against anyone. For this, I am grateful to him,” Dr Arbab said in a statement issued here on Monday.

“Being a sinful person, one has to offer pray to Almighty Allah. I have also been performing Haj and praying for myself, for my country, for people of this province, and also for Altaf Hussain, whom I respect as he is the leader of a party in the coalition. If such things are considered to be demerits, I would continue with them and would never repent,” he said.

Dr Arbab said that he would prefer to be the chief minister even for a day with dignity and blessings of God. The past chief ministers could stay in their offices hardly for one-and-a-half to two years, he said, adding that he had been serving for more than the prescribed period, and that also with full dignity.

“If God blessed me, I would continue to serve the poor masses of the province without any discrimination in future,” he said.

The chief minister criticized certain people, hailing from lower and upper Sindh, who were striving desperately to become chief minister of Sindh.

Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim here on Monday visited the Consulate of Kuwait and wrote his impressions in the condolence book on the demise of Kuwait’s Amir Shaikh

Jaber Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said the great loss has deprived the Muslim world of a visionary leader.

Meanwhile, Sindh Home Minister Rauf Siddiqui also visited the consulate for condoling the death.

He said the entire Muslim world was deeply grieved over the passing away of the great leader who performed numerous services for the Muslim Ummah.

“His services would be remembered for a long time,” he added.—PPI/APP