KARACHI, Oct 6: The Pakistan People’s Party’s provincial women wing on Friday slammed the provincial governments’ incapacity and alleged that the federal government had rendered its provincial counterparts redundant as it continues to make all decisions unilaterally.

Speaking at a news conference at Bilawal House, the women wing information secretary Shazia Marri maintained that a prime example of this situation was the sale of two islands -- Bundal and Buddo near Port Qasim -- about which the Chief Minister was ignorant.

The sale of the two islands without involvement of the province was in clear violation of Article 152 of the Constitution said Marri. Similarly, the Balochistan government had expressed ignorance over the ongoing military operation which resulted in Nawab Akbar Bugti’s murder. Such ineffectual and impotent provincial governments should resign, she said .

Commenting on the increased crime rate Marri termed this as yet another area where the government has failed miserably. In Karachi numerous robberies and vehicle and mobile phone snatchings are being reported. From January to August over 30,000 mobile phones were snatched in Karachi alone. That’s over 3,000 every month. To add to that, seven people were robbed every hour in July and August, making a total of 10,320 armed robberies in these two months alone!

Referring to the upcoming first anniversary of the devastating earthquake of 8th October, Marri said it was highly unfortunate that the government had not learnt from such a catastrophe.

Talking about General Musharraf’s recently published book, Marri said ‘In the line of fire’ lays bare Musharraf’s self serving agenda and was riddled with inconsistencies and contradictions.