PPP proposes truth and reconciliation accord for parties

SUKKUR: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has proposed a truth and reconciliation agreement among all the political parties to establish a new NFC committee, to abolish 17 federal ministries and hand them over to the provinces under the 18th Amendment. PPP Sindh President Nisar Khuhro made this demand while speaking at a crowded press conference at the Larkana Press Club on Friday.

To a question, Nisar Khuhro said that the political parties should not quarrel and complain among themselves and think about the development of the country, strengthening democracy and taking Pakistan out of the crises. He said that full autonomy that was supposed to be given to the provinces under the 18th Amendment has not yet been given completely nor the 17 federal ministries abolished and handed over to the provinces. This would reduce the burden of Rs300 billion from the federal treasury.

He said that a new NFC Award should be given in 2025 and the NFC committee should be constituted for the new NFC Award. He said that constitutionally, the share of provinces in the NFC can only be increased and not reduced and they are against reducing the share of provinces in the NFC. If the Federation has to meet the expenses, instead of reducing the share of provinces, tax collection should be improved through the FBR. Out of the 57 percent share of provinces in the NFC, Sindh is being given 24 percent share.

He said the 45th death anniversary of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto will be held on April 14 in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto. Khuhro said Bhutto was hanged in a false case under the notion that the PPP would be destroyed but the party proved to be stronger. He said the court had admitted that the punishment of Shaheed Bhutto was illegal.

To another question, he said the case of Priya Kumari was two and a half years old, it should be fully investigated. The investigation committee formed by the Sindh government is working on the Priya Kumari kidnapping case.

He said the caretaker government did not handle the case of killed journalist Jan Muhammad Mahar properly. The PPP government has issued instructions to the police to investigate the case and take strict action against the accused involved in his murder.

He said that during the 8 months of the caretaker government, the law & order situation in Sindh deteriorated, and the caretaker government did not take serious steps to restore it. But now the Sindh government has made changes in the police to improve law and order.

The PPP leader said unrest cannot be overcome in a day and continuous efforts are required to establish the writ of law. He said that how robbers and criminals get weapons should also be investigated.