KARACHI - Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that the federal government has failed to expedite work on census results and carrying out delimitation exercises. “This has raised the apprehensions of delaying general elections which PPP would never allow.”

This he said while talking to media just after laying foundation stone of a hospital being established by a local NGO, Sahil Welfare Trust here at Darya Peer village located on Coastal Highway, near Mirpur Sakro of District Thatta. He said that in the last CCI meeting held on August 25 permission was sought to lay provisional census results. But sorry to say, one of the federal ministers on the floor of the National Assembly said “the Sindh chief Minister had accepted the census results.” He went on saying that in the CCI meeting of November 13, he had lodged complaint with prime minister against the irresponsible statement given by the federal Minister about him. The prime minister upheld the chief minister’s point of view and said meeting was meant only for laying provisional results not for approving the results.

He said that in the CCI meeting there were eight votes but he was the only one who had discussed census results ranging from average numerical size of a family unit, male- female ratio, average housing units in rural and urban areas in the CCI meeting.

Syed Murad Ali Shah said that the federal government after laying census results in the CCI meeting of August 25 called Inter-Provincial Coordination Committee meeting (IPCC) on September 7 to discuss the census and delimitation mattes.

In the IPCC meeting, it was pointed out that the census and delimitation matters belonged to CCI, therefore they referred them to CCI.

The prime minister called CCI meeting on November 13, and said a constitutional amendment was required for starting delimitation on the basis of provisional census results “Now, question arises why the federal government is wasting time by playing ping pong with Census,” he asked and said when the constitutional amendment was required the federal government should have gone directly for amendment instead of referring the matter to IPCC and CCI. He said that the in the CCI meeting it was disclosed to declare final census results by April 30 and then the election would be held in August, 2018.

Replying to a question, the chief minister said that he had conditionally accepted provisional results. He added that the conditions include conducting third party validation of one percent of the census blocks, means 1600 blocks would verified; publish block-wise census results and the third condition was about the creation of a credible Forum which can rectify the mistakes, if found in the verification.

He said that the federal government on the CCI forum accepted all his conditions and then it was allowed to amend the constitution.

Replying to a question about Imran Khan’s demand for early election, the chief minister said if the PTI was serious in its early election demand then why their KPK chief minister Parvez Khatak voted for amendment in the constitution. Talking about PSP-MQM alliance, the chief minister said that he had welcomed their alliance but it could not long last as it was tied with raw threads.

Being a chief minister he warned that he would not allow anyone to create law and order or unrest in the city “We have restored it [peace] with hectic efforts,” he said and added “if you [MQM and PSP] want to do politics in the city it is your right,” he said.

Replying to a question, the chief minister said that he had always showed his doubts on the quality of the Motorway. “Media witnessed that the road being constructed is developing craters within few days,” he lamented.

Murad Ali Shah said that Shaheed Mohterma Benazir Bhutto wanted to construct Road from Karachi to Keti Bandar and Ali Bandar and had a plan to connect Garho with Chuhar Jamali by constructing a bridge on River Indus but her tenure was cut short. “The Sindh government would realise her dream by constructing the road and bridge on River Indus,” he announced.

Giving details of Keti Bandar project, the chief minister said that a Jetty would be constructed for export of coal and a Railway would also be laid from Islamkot to Keti Bandar to Transport Coal for export and power projects. He also added that a power park would also be established at Keti Bandar where Coal-fired power projects of 50,000 MW would established. “Coal- based power plants need lot of water which is not available at Thar,” he said. On public complaints, the chief minister said that he would talk to Chairman Nadra to send mobile team to Mirpur Sakro upto Keti Bandar and Ali Bandar for issuing CNIC to the people of the area.

The chief minister announced water supply and drainage schemes for different villages of Mirpur Sarki and Keti Bandar.

The chief minister assured the villages that the revenue record destroyed in flood and sea intrusion would be retrieved.

Earlier, the chief minister who landed accompanied by Provincial Ministers, Dr Sikandar Mendhro, Syed Nasir Shah and Mohammad Ali Malkani laid Foundation stone of a hospital.