April 09, 2008	Wednesday	Rabi-us-Sani 2, 1429

KARACHI, April 8: Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah on Tuesday secured a unanimous vote of confidence from the Sindh Assembly when identical resolutions, moved by 27 members under Article 130 (3) of the Constitution, were put to vote.

After winning the vote, the chief minister announced some steps for “accomplishing the incomplete mission of Benazir Bhutto”.

Governor Ishratul Ebad administered the oath at a ceremony at the lawns of the Governor’s House.

In a policy statement, Qaim Ali Shah said appointments made by the caretaker government stood cancelled. He said his government was committed to providing relief to youths, landless peasants, homeless families and those living in Kachchi Abadis and villages.

He said the government would try to get quashed “baseless cases” registered after the May 12, Oct 18 and Dec 27 tragedies.

He also announced compensation for the families of those killed in the three incidents and provision of job to one family member in the Sindh government.

He said at least 150,000 people would be made capable of earning their livelihood and 45,000 youths would be provided jobs in the Sindh government.

Two hundred thousand acres of land would be distributed among landless peasants.

He also announced immediate measures to tackle the power shortage in Karachi, recalling that the last Benazir government gave Karachi a “development package of Rs 121 billion”.

Qaim Ali Shah said PPP did not believe in politics of revenge. However, accountability would be initiated for ensuring rule of law. Incentives would be given in the education sector and over one million children would be enrolled in schools.

Mr Qaim said the government would strive to secure the province’s share in the new NFC Award.

He said he would set up a Sindh bank on the pattern of Punjab Bank to give small loans to farmers and youths.

Earlier, when the resolution was put to vote all members present in the assembly voted in favour of it by rising from their seats. He secured 92 votes — two more than the 90 he won in the election for chief minister on Monday.

The two additional votes reportedly came from Abid Hussain Sundrani and Ghalib Hussain Domki of PML-Q. The two left the House soon after voting.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Pakistan Muslim League-F, Pakistan Muslim League-Q and National People’s Party boycotted the session in protest against the manhandling of former chief minister Arbab Rahim.

Syed Qaim Ali Shah is the 21st chief minister of Sindh since 1937.

After the policy statement, the session was adjourned till Wednesday.

In reply to questions by journalists after the ceremony, the chief minister denied that talks with MQM had hit snag.

He said there was no ill-will against MQM. “We have some reservations which would soon be removed as we wanted to bring all stakeholders on board.”

The cabinet would be formed within three days, but in the first phase it would be a small cabinet, Mr Qaim added.