KARACHI: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-led federal government on Saturday accused the Pakistan Peoples Party government in Sindh of misappropriation of funds provided under the National Finance Commission (NFC) award during the past many years calling the provincial administration as “the most corrupt” in the country’s history.

The fresh claim of the centre came from a key member of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s team, who vowed that Islamabad would no longer leave the people of Sindh at the mercy of “corrupt PPP”.

“They [PPP leaders] will always complain about funds and make hue and cry against the federal government,” Communication and Postal Services Minister Murad Saeed told a press conference here.

Accompanied by Leader of the Opposition in the Sindh Assembly Haleem Adil Sheikh, he added: “But whenever we ask them about spending of funds and what development work they had carried out with trillions of rupees during the past 13 years, they stage a boycott in the National Assembly. The PPP government has spent all NFC funds on corruption and personal wealth of the leaders.”

He said the PPP government had used 18th Amendment as a “tool of corruption” and always tried to hide its failure in the name of democracy.

The federal minister claimed that Prime Minister Khan had made a commitment with the people of Sindh that he would not disappoint them.

“So whatever the legal capacity the federal government has, we will keep playing our role for the people of Sindh,” said Mr Saeed.

“No one cares if you [PPP government] don’t like this. But, you will be questioned ... your illegal moves will be resisted and the federal government will keep doing development works in the province whether you like it or not,” he said.

Referring to the recently passed Sindh Local Government (Amendment) Bill 2021, he called it a “dictatorial law” and true reflection of “feudal mindset” of the PPP leadership.

Published in Dawn, December 5th, 2021