HYDERABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Sindh president Dr Arif Alvi has suggested that PML-N government should pass the interim budget and invite Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan to join PTI because “he is a good person”.

He urged National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to speed up action against corruption being committed with complete impunity in Sindh, otherwise, it would have bad impact on upcoming general election.

“NAB remains tight-lipped over massive corruption in Sindh. It has unveiled corruption of PPP leaders Dr Asim Hussain, Sharjeel Inam Memon and others but still many, including Pakistan Peoples Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and his coterie, remain out of the reach of NAB law,” he said.

He was speaking at a press conference held at district office of the party here on Wednesday.

Dr Alvi said that United Kingdom (UK) had passed the Unexplained Wealth Order aimed at fighting against corruption and curbing ill-gotten gains. Similar laws were in force in almost all countries throughout the world and under one such law in the light of evidence and proofs, Mian Nawaz Sharif was disqualified for failure to explain means of his massive wealth, he said.

About issues of Sindh farmers, he said that despite fixing sugar cane price at Rs180 to Rs170 per 40 kilogramme, cane growers were being forced to sell their produce at Rs100 to Rs130 per 40 kg. The responsibility for the situation rested with Asif Zardari, he said.

He said that now the issue of gunny bags for wheat was being created like every year. Rs200 to Rs300 per bag bribe would be taken from growers and billions of rupees would be pocketed in the process during wheat season, he said, urging the NAB to take notice of farmers’ issues to stop the spiral of injustice. He said that he was grateful to the head of Supreme Court-appointed judicial commission on water quality and drainage retired Justice Amir Hani Muslim who was personally visiting installations to check water quality. He said that 80 per cent water was polluted and there was no system of disposal of sewage in any town or city of the province. The US, therefore, had banned fish imports from Pakistan, he said.

He said that 420 million gallons water of Karachi was being thrown into sea and people were being forced to drink contaminated water as the government had failed to streamline the system.

About rising pollution in Karachi and Hyderabad, Dr Alvi said that instead of planting trees to curb pollution, the Sindh government was busy in occupying all empty plots. Every individual should plant at least seven saplings to fight pollution, he said.

He said that it was a shame for the government that PPP had been in power at least in the province for decades but it could not make a comprehensive plan to overcome drought, malnutrition and other issues confronting Thar.

Dr Alvi said that provincial government must devolve powers to local government in all cities to ensure provision of civic amenities and development in a smooth manner. He said that if local government representatives were not given powers, “the politics of Sindh and Mohajir cards” by PPP and MQM, respectively, would continue perpetually in the province.

He said that PPP lawmakers did not release funds to local governments for their own vested interests. On the contrary in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa the government had devolved powers to local government and depoliticised police, which had led to significant improvement in education, health and other sectors, he said.

He said that standard of education and health facilities in Sindh was deteriorating and the issues of excessive power loadshedding, rise in prices of milk and food items and unemployment had plagued peoples’ lives. “Jobs are being sold at all levels in Sindh,” he claimed.

He said that PTI would sweep general election by trouncing PPP and PML-N. The two parties had contributed to many of the financial ills the economy was afflicted with today, he said.

Published in Dawn, April 5th, 2018