Murad says his govt contests Cholistan Canal at every govt forum
Imran
KARACHI Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has firmly said that his government is strongly opposed to the construction of the Cholistan Canal and is currently contesting this issue in the ECNEC.
He said this while talking to the media just after launching the Polio eradication campaign at SMB Fatima Jinnah School, Garden on Monday.
To a question, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said that the IRSA authorities had certified to provide water to the Cholistan Canal if commissioned. “On September 20, Minister Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro attended the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) and opposed the approval of the canal,” he said.
The Chief Minister provided additional details about a recent meeting of the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) that was originally scheduled for October 11 at 9 a.m but did not take place as planned. He stated, “Before the meeting, I spoke with Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal and informed him that the Sindh government would never accept the Cholistan Canal.” He mentioned that he was assured by the federal minister that the agenda for the Cholistan Canal would be postponed.
“However, the meeting that took place on October 11, 2024, was delayed and ultimately held at 11 p.m, the CM said and added that the Cholistan Canal project was approved in the CDWP despite strong opposition from the Sindh representative, the Chief Minister said and went on saying that he has also written to the Chairman of Planning to express his opposition to the project.
Mr Shah said that the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) is the final forum where Sindh will contest its case, and the Sindh government has already challenged the Canal in the Council of Common Interests (CCI). He added, “The PPP government knows how to protect the rights of the people of Sindh.”
The CM, to another question regarding the increasing number of polio cases, said that the Caretaker government could not take appropriate measures to continue polio eradication drives. Therefore, his government has to face the situation. “The provision of the caretaker government’s induction for holding general elections should be deleted from the constitution because it creates a gap in the continuity of the policies,” he said.
To a question, Murad Shah denied knowing about bringing another amendment to the constitution. “Line you [media] I have also heard this news, and he has also heard such news through the media,” he said and added that the Pakistan Peoples Party knows how to protect the country, the constitution, and its people.
Mr Shah said that there was nothing wrong with the 26th Constitutional Amendment. He added that the amendment was appropriate, and that’s why we [PPP] supported it. “PPP will never support any amendment or policy in which rights of the people of the country are trampled,” he said and added his party always upheld people’s rights
“Is it justifiable for a sitting Prime Minister, Yousuf Raza Gilani, to be ousted for not writing a letter against the President of Pakistan? Is it appropriate within the constitution for another sitting Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, to be removed for not receiving a salary from his son?” he asked.
In 2006, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto signed the Charter of Democracy (COD) with Mian Nawaz Sharif, which included the establishment of constitutional courts. Chairman Bilawal Bhutto has realized the vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto through the 26th Constitutional Amendment.
