DADU: Sindh Chief Min­is­ter Syed Murad Ali Shah on Thursday said that Prime Minister Imran Khan was free to visit the province whenever he desired so but the political situation emer­ging after certain statements and moves of PTI ministers and lawmakers had created doubts about the motive behind his visit.

He was speaking to local reporters in Bhan Syedabad town, where he had come to offer his condolences to a journalist, Asif Ali Memon, on the recent death of his uncle, Haji Haroon Memon.

Mr Shah referred to Federal Information Minis­ter Fawad Chaudhry’s statements, during his recent visit to Karachi, on his party’s moves to bring about a change and his (CM’s) replacement while his several other party colleagues were also seen working in the same direction.

“This has created a political situation which raises questions about the actual motive behind the prime minister’s upcoming visit,” he said.

If the PM intended to come here with a view to pay attention to development in Sindh, he was most welcome, he said. But what the PTI government at the Centre had been doing with the PPP and Sindh government could only be called victimisation.

“If you keep focusing on such victimisation, then who will pay attention to addressing people’s issues?” he asked.

He said PTI must realise that the masses were hard pressed due to growing inflation, price hike and failing economy.

Therefore, it should better focus on providing some relief to them instead of wasting its energy and resources on victimising its opponents, he said.

He regretted that PTI ministers and lawmakers were continuing with their insulting remarks against him and the PPP chairman despite clear directions by the Supreme Court to remove their names from the Exit Control List.

The National Account­ability Bureau (NAB) had also snubbed the information minister over his uncalled for demand for PPP leaders’ arrest, he added. “Actually the minister is left with nothing to talk about,” Mr Shah said.

Answering a question, the chief minister said that the issue of water shortage in Sindh was discussed in detail on the floor of the provincial assembly and it was noted that Sindh was not getting its share as per the 1991 Water Accord.

He said Sindh had forcefully pleaded its case at the relevant forums and was waiting for the outcome.

A future line of action would be decided accordingly, he added.

In reply to another question, Mr Shah said PPP’s decision to join hands with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and other opposition parties was aimed at ensuring the people’s issues were addressed.

Later, the chief minister proceeded to his native town, Wahur, and then Wehar Sharif village.

Published in Dawn, January 18th, 2019