KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has said the revival of the local government system was meant to fill the vacuum until a new law was framed or amendments were made to the Local Government Ordinance, 2001, or the Local Bodies Act, 1979.

Addressing a press conference at the CM House on Thursday night after presiding over a meeting of the Sindh PPP Council, he said a disinformation campaign was painting the PPP as anti-Sindh.

Terming the propaganda baseless, the chief minister said the PPP had to its credit outstanding services to the people of Sindh and Pakistan. He said it was beyond comprehension that President Asif Ali Zardari, who is a son of Sindh, could think of harming the interest of people of the province.

Mr Shah cited the historic sit-in against Kalabagh Dam, provincial autonomy, the NFC award, empowerment of women, grant of 25-acre government land to landless women farmers and free supply of fertiliser and seeds and over 60,000 jobs given topeople of Sindh as some of the achievements of the PPP-led government.

Referring to the call given by nationalist parties for a province-wide strike on Saturday, the chief minister wondered why did the nationalists not launch a movement against the local government system during the Musharraf regime.

In reply to a question, he said if nationalists wanted to hold negotiations with the government, they would be welcomed.

Mr Shah dismissed suggestions that there was a revolt within the PPP on the issue.

To another question, the chief minister said the PPP leadership would certainly ask people to forgive them if they committed a mistake, but “by enforcing the Nazim-based local government system, we did not commit any mistake”.

The Sindh PPP Council meeting discussed the political situation in the province.

The meeting adopted a resolution expressing its confidence in the leadership of President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Gilani and Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, and endorsed all decisions taken by them.