KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Syed Murad Ali Shah has described the arrest of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) senior leader and MNA Syed Khursheed Shah by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) as extremely unwise and wrong step, which would harm national cohesion.

Condemning the arrest in strong words, the CM asked whether Khursheed Shah was running away from the country that he was detained by NAB. Mr Shah had been cooperating with NAB in the investigation, he said, adding that it was certainly a wrong step, particularly at a time when demonstration of complete solidarity and harmony was being displayed by all sections of society on the Kashmir issue.

In Sukkur, PPP workers came out in streets in Pano Aqil, Rohri, Salehpat, where Khursheed Shah runs his business, and other allied towns, forcing traders to bring down the shutters. They also pelted them with stones in protest and burnt tyres.

Heavy contingent of police reached the spot to bring the situation under control.

As soon as the news of Syed Khursheed Shah’s arrest broke, angry PPP workers started pelting shopkeepers and people driving vehicles with stones.

They burnt tyres in front of the local press club and different areas of the city. Fearing damage to their assets, people closed the markets.

MNA Khursheed Shah has been arrested by NAB for possessing assets beyond his means.

The protesters alleged that central government was using NAB to push its political opponents to the wall and Khursheed Shah was one of the victims.

The arrest of the MNA was condemnable, they said.

According to a NAB source, a probe is going on against Khursheed Shah, his nephew Syed Awais Qadir Shah (MPA), his close associate Pehlaj Mal, along with 16 others, for corruption of billions of rupees.

The NAB prosecutor at Sukkur, when contacted, told this reporter that after obtaining a transit remand from Rawalpindi, Khursheed Shah would be brought to Sukkur. After collecting evidence, a reference would be filed against the MNA, he added.

Workers belonging to the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Pakistan Muslim League-Functional and others celebrated the event by distributing sweets. They said the sitting MNA after being elected from different seats in past 30 years was responsible for “corruption of billions of rupees”, which had destroyed the economy of the country.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2019