HYDERABAD: Adviser to the Chief Minister on Information Maula Bukhsh Chandio on Sunday dispelled the impression that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) was afraid of the ongoing Rangers-led operation in Karachi and that’s why reluctant to allow it’s extension to the rest of the province. Explaining his party’s and the Sindh government’s position on the issue, Mr Chandio said that actually placing the entire Sindh under the operation would be tantamount to failure of civilian authority. As such, it could not be done, he said.

He also insisted that the change of chief minister in Sindh was a development which normally took place under a parliamentary system in line with democratic norms.

Mr Chandio was speaking at a press conference at his residence after being retained as information adviser by the new Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah. He expressed his gratitude to the party leadership for reposing confidence in him and said that he took pride in working with Bhuttos.

He observed that Rangers were continuing with their law-enforcement duties though their special powers were yet to be revalidated. The [revalidation] process was delayed by the developments leading to the change of chief minister and his cabinet last week. However, he expressed his confidence that “Rangers will get the powers within a day or two”.

“I also appreciate the Rangers chief for praising the Sindh police for their role in restoring peace,” he said, and condemning the Saturday blasts near Rangers checkpost in Larkana. Describing the paramilitary force as a “respectable national institution” that had been assigned a specific task, he said the PPP was not afraid of its actions. “Rather, we are proud of the Rangers force,” he added.

In reply to questions about extension or otherwise of the Rangers-led operation to the interior of Sindh, Mr Chandio ruled out a possibility of such a decision. “The government is not limiting them [Rangers] and they are also not demanding anything; they want to get along with the government. They are sincerely working under CM’s directives. The operation is continuing under his [CM’s] captaincy.”

Tribute to Qaim Ali Shah

Mr Chandio said that the PPP paid rich tribute to former chief minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and his loyalty with the party leadership. “He has the distinction of working with Z.A. Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto, Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and serving Sindh as its chief minister thrice.”

Regarding the future strategy of the Sindh government, Mr Chandio said certain decisions had been taken but could not be shared [with the media] at this point of time. “People would definitely see a change they are looking for,” he said, adding that it was the cabinet’s collective responsibility to ensure good governance and that’s why the new CM had directed his ministers to visit other departments besides their own ones to observe their working and performance.

Centre’s attitude

He complained that Sindh was not getting assistance from the federal government although it was facing problems. “Karachi is termed a ‘mini Pakistan’ and if it’s the case, then the entire country should share its burden and expenses,” he said, arguing that people from across the country enjoy the facilities provided by the provincial and local governments in Karachi.

He noted that Karachi was facing a water shortage and this could be attributed to the provincial government’s negligence but “I personally believe that we can provide whatever is available with us”.A hue and cry was also raised across the country whenever there was a law and order situation there [in Karachi] so all provincial governments should also help Sindh government in restoring peace to the city.

Power woes

The adviser observed that the electricity crisis persisted in Sindh and some officers had a parochial mindset. Therefore, Wapda should review its policy of adjusting line losses by putting consumers (in Sindh) in trouble. He criticised the Federal Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali for labelling the entire Sindh as ‘power thief’.

In reply to a question, he said the federal government had not passed the new National Finance Commission Award and also not released Sindh’s full share, which was a breach of the Constitution.

Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2016