Sindh governor says Zardari may be arrested if found involved in corruption
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HYDERABAD: Sindh Governor Imran Ismail has said that inter-provincial water distribution is in accordance with the 1991 Water Apportionment Accord and if there is a shortage of water in the river system, it is borne by all provinces.
He was speaking to the media at Ghulam Mohammad Barrage (better known as Kotri Barrage) in Jamshoro on Monday. He said Sindh government should have built dams and water reservoirs but no attention was paid. “No one else can be held responsible for this,” he said, adding that it is right time that attention be paid to it (building storages) and the problem be resolved.
The governor said that the federal government had already released its committed funds for the K-IV project, pointing out that the delay caused in the construction had escalated its cost to Rs125 billion from Rs25bn. He said that several changes were made in the project but the federal government still wanted its completion at all costs.
Governor Ismail termed media reports about water flows “jugglery of figures” and claimed that “Sindh is getting its due share ... it is not treated differently”. He asked a questioner as to where water was being stopped.
‘He is panicked because of corruption cases against him’
Commenting on [former head of state] Asif Ali Zardari’s recent remarks, the governor said they appeared highly inappropriate in terms of the country’s stability. He said according to Mr Zardari, barring him all others had been introduced by army. “Asif Zardari is panicked; he must disclose that who had brought him [to power]. He [Mr Zardari] was facing confusion because there were charges of corruption against him”, he said.
“After Benazir Bhutto’s martyrdom, he projected himself as the hero but it is not going to last any longer.
The governor said that if investigations found him to be involved in corruption, he might be arrested.
About Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government’s performance, he said that his party was being asked to account for its 100 days, but the question was being asked by those who had done nothing in the past 70 years.
Housing projects
Governor Ismail distributed keys of flats, built by the Saylani Welfare Trust, to some of the allottees of the 92 flats project for low-income group at a ceremony held here on Monday. He also performed the ground-breaking of a 200 flats project in Bismillah City, Latifabad Unit-10, at a separate ceremony.
Speaking at the SWT ceremony, the governor said he had invited the trust to sign a joint venture with the government to build more residential units for deserving people under the prime minister’s five million houses project.
He said he would ask the PM to help acquire land for 5,000 flats in Hyderabad district. He said he had already selected the proposed site.
The governor visited site of the newly-built flats and inaugurated SWT’s 200 flats site in Kohsar, Latifabad.
Federal Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda, MPA Haleem Adil Shaikh, MQM-P MPA Nadeem Siddiqui, SWT founder chairman Bashir Ahmed Farooqui and a large number of guests attended the ceremony.
MUET convocation
Governor Ismail gave away gold and silver medals and certificates to meritorious students and degrees to 940 graduating students at the 22nd convocation of the Mehran University of Engineering and Technology (MUET) in Jamshoro on Monday.
Speaking at the programme, he congratulated the successful students and hoped that they would prefer to serve this country to the best of their abilities, besides going for higher studies.
Universities do not have a traditional role these days; they are now playing a pivotal role in producing leadership, contributing to the country’s economic development and helping resolve social issues, according to him.
The governor particularly acknowledged the services of MUET teachers and performance of students in this regard. He pledged his due cooperation with the university administration in getting its issues resolved.
He stressed the need for research and efforts towards meeting major challenges like controlling population growth, overcoming energy and water crises, addressing environmental issues etc and hoped that the faculty and graduating students would do their best in this regard.
Seven gold and 30 silver medals were awarded to best students, including toppers while 42 students received merit certificates at the convocation. Nine scholars were also awarded PhD degrees.
Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2018
