SUKKUR, Aug 3: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has said the Pakistan People’s Party is perturbed over reduction of a large number of votes in Sindh in fresh computerised lists issued by the Election Commission this week.

He said over the last five years a large number of youths had turned 18 and their names should have been included in the voter lists.

The chief minister was talking to journalists at Sukkur airport on Friday before leaving for Khairpur to take part in the Urs of Sufi poet Sachal Sarmast in Daraza Sharif, near Gambat.

He said a committee had been constituted to review voter lists and a letter was written to the Election Commission to review the fresh rolls.

Mr Shah said another matter of concern was that a large number of votes were bogus.

In reply to a question about uplift programmes, the chief minister said a number of schemes were not completed as an instalment of Rs 25 billion was received from the federal government as late as on June 30.

“Negotiations with the federal government are under way and we hope that funds will be reallocated soon, paving the way for resumption of work on these schemes,” Mr Shah observed.

The chief minister said the government was keen on completion of all schemes by the end of the year as 2013 would be the year of elections.

He said he was in touch with PPP’s allies in connection with local bodies elections, expressing hope that a decision to hold the elections would be made soon.

Our Khairpur correspondent adds: The chief minister said the provincial government had paid attention to maintenance and improvement of shrines of sufi saints since the era of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and the present government was no exception.

He was speaking at the Mehfil-i-Sama hall after inaugurating the 191st Urs of Sachal Sarmast in Daraza.

Mr Shah said popularity of Sachal Sarmast’s mystic philosophy was growing by the day, citing the participation of delegations from India in functions in memory of the poet.

He said the government intended to set up a Sufi university in Bhit Shah, adding that Sakhi Qabool Mohammad, Sajjada Nasheen of Sachal Sarmast’s shrine, would be a source of guidance in the endeavour.

The chief minister directed DIG Sukkur to set up a police post to control petty crime during the Urs after complaints that theft of motorcycles was common during the celebrations.

Mr Shah presented Sachal Awards for 2011 to Shehneela Ali, Sufi singer Faqeer Najam Ali, research scholar Altaf Aseem, poet Sajjad Mirani and wrestler Ali Nawab Maitlo. Awards in recognition of services were given to Nafisa Shah and Maulana Mohammad Sadiq Ranipuri.

Lifetime achievement awards were given to Syed Ghous Ali Shah and Naseem Kharal.

Financial assistance was extended to Sufi singers Motan Shah, Sher Shah, Faqeer Rajib, Bhooral Bhatti, Peeral Faqir and instrumentalist Urs Bhatti. Mementos were given to provincial ministers Sassui Palijo and Rafiq Bhanbhan.