ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on Sunday said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led federal government has transferred Rs1,800 billion to the Sindh government during the past two years and asked as to where the money has been utilized.
Addressing media at Karachi Press Club, Fawad said that Karachi elected 16 PTI MNAs and they have all the right to ask as to where the Rs1800 billion given to the Sindh government has gone.
“Why this money is not being spent on Karachi’s uplift,” he asked and added that the money received in the name of Ghotki by the provincial government would have turned the area into Paris if utilized properly.
“What is the situation in Larkana where billions of rupees have been spent,” he asked and added that when they are asked about the utilization of funds, the PPP start raising hue and cry.
He was alluding to money laundering cases filed against PPP leaders, including the party’s co-chairperson, Asif Ali Zardari, and his sister, Faryal Talpur.
The federal minister held Sindh’s rulers responsible for what he dubbed as the province’s derelict condition, claiming that they were, in fact, Sindh’s enemies and that their days were numbered.
“There is no democracy here [in Sindh]. Here, there is a dictatorship under the guise of democracy and that is why people here have been deprived of their rights,” he said, questioning where the funds given for the province’s uplift were spent as no improvements were visible.
He demanded of the Supreme Court of Pakistan to ensure the implementation of Article 140-A of the constitution across Pakistan, especially in Sindh.
“Under the 18th Amendment, it is the responsibility of the provincial government, and our responsibility ends after the release of funds,” said Chaudhry, pointing out that Rs700-750 billion, excluding grants, had been allocated for Sindh in the budget for the fiscal year 2021-22.
Fawad Chaudhry said that that it was unfortunate that the enemies of the Sindh province are currently ruling it. “This was the last election, they have won as next time Imran Khan will personally lead the election campaign in the province,” he said adding that there is no alternative to the PTI government in the country.
Earlier in the press briefing, while commenting on proposed electoral reforms that have been a point of contention between the government and the opposition of late, the federal minister explained that the former’s intention was to devise a mechanism trusted by all parties and no doubts were raised on election results, Dawn reported.
“We have proposed 49 amendments in parliament for the purpose, but now, instead of discussing and giving their suggestions in parliament, the opposition has announced that it will call an APC (all parties conference),” he said. “This will weaken parliament and this will weaken democracy.”
The minister went on to say that on the one hand, the PPP portrayed itself as the champion of democracy and on the other, it was often the first one to oppose democratic ideas.
He further accused the party’s leaders, particularly naming Asif Ali Zardari, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Faryal Talpur, of stealing water and diverting the water to their own lands.
“That’s why Sindh has opposed the Irsa’s (Indus River System Authority’s) proposal to monitor the inflow and outflow of water in the province.”
Chaudhry said that the PPP, as well the PML-N, no longer acted as a national party, but as a regional party.
“But their [the PPP’s] days are numbered … and the PTI will win the next election in Sindh,” he said, assuring that Prime Minister Imran Khan would himself lead the election campaign in Sindh in 2023.
Referring to the Pakistan Democratic Movement and the opposition at large, he said the opposition at the moment was weak and a blend of different ideologies, with the only objective of defeating Prime Minister Imran Khan.
“But they can’t defeat Imran Khan like this. They will need to review their performance of the past years.”
He went on to hail the prime minister for having clear policies and improving the economy.
In reply to a question about him urging the Supreme Court to enforce Article 140-A of the Constitution in Sindh, he said it was necessary for the formation of the provincial financial commission, and in turn, for the devolution of power to the district level and the people of the province.
To another question about the figure of around four per cent growth rate being challenged, Chaudhry justified that the growth was fuelled by a large amount of remittances sent by overseas Pakistanis, bumper crops, the revival of the large-scale manufacturing sectoring and other such factors.
With additional input from INP
