KARACHI - Sindh government has decided to request the federal government to constitute a judicial commission into the actions taken by the FIA in the province.
The statement issued from the CM House stated that the provincial government deems the action of FIA and NAB in Sindh as ‘a stride over move’ of its limits and jurisdictions. It said that Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has offered PPP chief Asif Ali Zardari to constitute a judicial commission into the raids and seizures of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in Sindh. The spokesman of the Sindh government said the provincial government would appreciate if Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, in order to keep the record straight, takes a bold initiative to constitute a judicial commission into the FIA raids in Sindh. He said the FIA had taken away more than 15,000 files of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC). “The Sindh government is of the view that the FIA has no authority and jurisdiction to conduct raids in the offices of the provincial government as they have their own mechanism to take action against corruption in its departments,” he said.
The FIA, under a self-proclaimed authority, has taken over the role of anti-corruption in the limits of provincial government which is unconstitutional, illegal and against the spirit of 18th amendment, he added.
He said, “The findings of the judicial commission would help remove misunderstandings developed on the issue of FIA and NAB jurisdiction or actions in Sindh. This is a very good, pragmatic and bold offer on the part of federal interior minister. The statement of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on NAB is also acceptance of Sindh government’s stance on the accountability body. He hoped that the federal minister would shortly constitute a judicial commission to end the row between the provincial and federal government on the issue of FIA limits.
Meanwhile, the provincial government denied lifting ban from recruitment, saying the government has imposed ban on fresh recruitment due to local bodies’ elections. Once all the phases of the local bodies’ elections are completed, the government would consider lifting ban on recruitment.
The government is keen to create and provide jobs to unemployed youth on merit but this would be done when the ban on fresh recruitments is lifted.
Centre’s remarks over NAB to endanger democracy: Adviser to Sindh Chief Minister on Information, Maula Bux Chandio on Saturday warned the federal government regarding the statements of interference in the NAB affairs and delay in the census process.
Such statements are not a good sign for democracy and federation of the country, he said. Talking to media at a local hotel, Chandio said holding census with all its procedures was a constitutional obligation that lies with the federal government but they were showing irresponsibility over this issue.
He said his words not only represent his party but was also the voice of the people of the province. Federal government should avoid giving any statements that could endanger the federation and should refrain from creating misunderstandings.
“We are holding an all parties conference for building a joint consensus over the census issue from the province,” he said. Other than the political and religious parties, PPP had also invited the nationalist parties in the APC to share their reservations.
He said Sindh had the same threats likewise Balochistan where the nationalist leaders had expressed concern of being turned into a minority after the influx of people from other provinces. He, however, said the Urdu-speaking people, living in the province, were the part of the province. “I do not consider them as a Mohajir.” He said they were not against those coming from other provinces but there should be separate registration of those who had come to Sindh for temporary stay.
To a query as to why the federal government would pay heed to the recommendations of the APC as it had not even given any attention to the resolutions of the provincial assembly, Chandio said it was their responsibility to raise the issue of the province. If the federal government would not pay heed towards it then the entire country would suffer its consequences, he said.
“Taking majority from a single province is the only agenda of the incumbent rulers and the PML-N does not care for the small provinces. It has always neglected their mandate,” he said, warns that such attitude is not a good omen for the country.
Chandio said when the Sindh chief minister asked the authorities to inform him before the arrest of any government official or politician, everyone raised hue and cry over it but when the same was happened in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and at federal level by the prime minister in a NAB case, no one said anything. “Now when the NAB had reached to their doorsteps, the prime minister and his cabinet members are bent on interfering in the authority’s affairs,” he said, adding how the NAB could perform its duties autonomously after the statements from the prime minister and the NAB chief.
He said this was not the first time that PML-N was bent on destroying the institutions as they had done the same in past. Whenever any institution comes into their way, they try to ruin it without caring of its consequences on the country.