Karachi, January 16, 2023 (PPI-OT):Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that the conduct of free, fair, and peaceful elections of local bodies in the second phase was the manifestation of his government’s commitment to the people of the province and to the democratic process. He also congratulated all the candidates, irrespective of their party affiliation, who have returned in the Local bodies election. He also disclosed that elections on reserved seats would be held within a month to complete the process. This he said while talking to the media at Expo Center where he visited the Iranian Single Country Exhibition on Monday.
He was accompanied by his Special Assistant on Investment Syed Qasim Naveed. Mr. Shah appreciated and thanked law enforcement agencies, including police, Rangers, FC, and Pak Army for ensuring the peaceful process of the election though there were some threat alerts.” Talking about the delay in declaring election results, the CM said that he has talked to Election Commissioner, Sindh with the request to declare the results at the earliest. “Some people are giving the impression that the provincial government is causing a delay in the issuance of the result, as a matter of fact, my government has nothing to do with counting and releasing results,” he said and added it was the job and the responsibility of the Election Commission, for which he has already spoken with them [EC], he said.
Mr. Shah said that the main reason behind the delay in declaring the result, as told by the election commission, was the counting of votes twice by the Presiding officers. The chief minister said that he has also spoken with Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman and told him that it was not only his party [Jamaat Islami] but the PPP was also not receiving the results. He added that the Local Government Minister Syed Nasir Shah was in constant touch with Hafiz Naeem and others, and they all were trying to get the results at the earliest. Murad Ali Shah also thanked the people of Sindh for reposing confidence in the Pakistan Peoples Party by electing them across the province.
To a question, the CM said that the government would cooperate with the `to be elected’ Mayor of Karachi and strengthen him. “I am sure the new Mayor would not cry for want of power but would focus to serve the people of this city and its people,” he said and added the local bodies have all the powers they need to serve the people. Replying to a question, Murad Ali Shah said that he made the last ditch effort to persuade the MQM-P to contest the local bodies election but they chose to boycott the process. He added “when a political party chooses to boycott the election means it is creating a vacuum that other parties fill in,” he said and went on to say that once the PPP had boycotted the election held on a non-party basis [under Zia regime] that caused huge political loss to the party.
Mr. Shah said that with the consultation of all the stakeholders, his government had passed the local government law under which Towns have been created in the city. “I am sure this system would deliver and serve the people,” he said. To a question, Murad Shah said that in the city elections have been held on 235 seats of them, and hopefully PPP would win over 100 seats. “There is a tough contest between three parties – PPP, Jamaat Islami, and PTI,” he said. Talking about the local bodies election in Hyderabad, the CM said that out of 160 seats, the PPP has won 104/105.
“We have won district Council Hyderabad and 99 towns and municipalities,” he said. Earlier, the chief minister visited different stalls set up by Iranian companies at the Expo and was briefed by them about the quality of their products. Later the chief minister attended the MOU signing ceremony between TDAP and Iran Trade Promotion Organization. Speaking at the ceremony the CM said that there was a dire need to enhance the volume of trade between the two brother countries.
“Pakistan and Iran are religiously and culturally brother countries,” he said and added that he has a diary of his grandfather with him that he had written in the Persian language and in those days the official language of Sindh was Persian. Arts Council: Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah visited the arts council, inaugurate Josh Malihabadi Library, studio 2, Ahmad Parvez Art gallery Faraz and visited the painting exhibition. He was accompanied by Minister of Education and Culture Syed Sardar Shah. Speaking at the oath-taking ceremony, the chief minister said that the Arts Council has woven together the people of Pakistan with art and literature.
“This assimilation can only be made with art, dance, poetry, and interaction which promote mutual respect and love,” he said. The chief minister appreciated the role and hard work of President Arts Council Ahmed Shah in promoting literary activities. He added that the newly elected Governing body has brought over leading literary personalities and their inclusion in the decision-making of the arts council would help promote art and literature. Minister Culture Sardar Shah said that the Sindh government has established Arts Councils in all the divisional headquarters of the province and their affiliation with the Karachi Arts Council would help literary activities all over Sindh. Earlier, the chief minister took an oath to the newly elected Governing body and congratulated them on the election.
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Press Secretary,
Chief Minister House, Sindh
Tel: +92-21-99202019 (Ext: 336)
Website: www.cmsindh.gov.pk