KARACHI: A day after a federal minister claimed that the concerns expressed by top military commanders regarding weak governance were related to Rs230 billion annual corruption in Sindh, Senior Sindh Minister Nisar Khuhro said on Friday that the agency that prepared the report failed to come up with any proof before a three-member body led by a retired judge of the Sindh High Court to substantiate its allegation.

Five months ago, Sindh Rangers had issued a report to the media claiming that more than Rs230bn was being generated annually from Karachi through extortion, smuggling of Iranian diesel, water supply, land-grabbing, etc. The Sindh chief minister formed a three-member task force to examine the report.

On Thursday, Federal Minister Abdul Qadir Baloch claimed that the ISPR statement about weak governance was actually directed against the performance of the Sindh government which had failed to take action on the report of Rs230bn annual corruption.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting to finalise security arrangements for the second phase of the local government election in 15 districts of Sindh, the senior minister termed the statement of Mr Baloch, also a former lieutenant general, ‘irresponsible’.

Without naming the Rangers, Mr Khuhro went on to say that nobody appeared before the three-member task force headed by retired Justice Ghulam Sarwar Korai with proof and, therefore, the allegation stood rejected.

The corps commanders’ meeting was about the overall situation of the country and not of one province, he said. “We want to remind him [Mr Baloch] that former auditor general of Pakistan Buland Akhatr had pointed out corruption of Rs180 billion in federal departments. If you will talk about us, we will talk about you and this will go on.”

He said that the Sindh government was much ahead of other provinces in implementing the national action plan.

He said that 85 cases of terrorism had been scrutinised and 74 cases were recommended for trial in military courts but the federal government had approved only 11 cases.

Briefing about the security measures for the LG polls, Mr Khuhro said that keeping in view the tragic incident of Daraza Sharif during the first phase, security had been beefed up by increasing the number of personnel to ensure holding of peaceful elections.

He said that the government had decided to deploy 15,000 policemen and 3,798 Rangers soldiers. The rapid deployment force was also asked to remain alert for deployment, he added.

In reply to a question, the minister said that the Election Commission of Pakistan was the authority to call the army for maintaining order at the polling stations.

He said that the code of conduct would be enforced strictly and no one would be allowed to carry arms and the policemen performing security duty must wear uniform.

He said that the ECP could disqualify any candidate if found carrying weapons with him.

The meeting was presided over by CM Syed Qaim Ali Shah and attended by Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad, Mr Khuhro, Home Minister Sohail Siyal, chief secretary, Sindh police chief and other senior officials.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2015

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