DG Rangers’ accusations against PPP baseless: Khursheed Shah
Asks how Iranian oil, drugs smuggled in presence of paramilitary, police at borders; asserts Rangers, NAB had no mandate to interfere in province’s affairs
By our correspondents
June 15, 2015
SUKKUR: Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Ahmad Shah said the allegations of the Rangers against the PPP are baseless. He was talking to reporters at Jacobabad after addressing a public meeting on Sunday. Referring to the DG Rangers’ allegations, Shah asserted the PPP leaders are not involved in illegal and unconstitutional activities; they are also not involved in any type of extortion nor the party has any extortion group. He asked the DG Rangers regarding transportation of Iranian petrol, narcotics in Sindh from the borders, even after tight security of para-military forces and police. He asked the DG Rangers who was performing duties at the borders and how, as he himself said, Rs90 billion Iranian oil and Rs110 billion narcotics make their way into Sindh. It should be investigated who is behind such illegal business. Shah said the Rangers and the NAB had no mandate to interfere in the affairs of any province after the implementation of the 18th Amendment.He said making of Task Force by Chief Minister Sindh to probe into the charges levelled by the Rangers is a good step. Referring to the Indian prime minister’s statement, he said Modi confessed to the making of Bangladesh by dividing Pakistan. Shah said Modi’s attitude towards Pakistan was not tolerable and added that his confession is solid evidence of the involvement of RAW in Pakistan to destabilise Pakistan through terrorism. Khursheed Shah called the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s inflammatory remarks akin to weak threats. Addressing a PPP public meeting earlier, Khursheed Shah said the Indian prime minister does not want to see Pakistan as a sovereign state and is working on a specific agenda. He said, “I ask India for the last time to stop interfering in the internal affairs of Pakistan.” Regarding the federal budget he said it is not a friendly budget. It has no relief for the agricultural sector, besides tax on the commodities will lead to inflation, which will reflect upon the living standards of the common people. He said tax on poultry farms was not justified as tax would reduce the poultry business to 50 percent. He said exports would be badly affected due to load shedding. Salaries should have been raised by 25 percent, he added. Regarding a probe into poll rigging, he said the PTI did not provide any solid evidence to the Judicial Commission, therefore Imran Khan should seek pardon from the nation for his baseless allegations. He said Imran Khan is a not a mature politician and is not serious about coming to the assembly. Regarding the Bahria Town project in Jacobabad, he said it is development-based and will create jobs for people. He said 40 acres of land given to Bahria Town is not enough; it should have been 0.4 million acres. Khurshid Shah said the PPP is ready for local bodies’ polls and hopefully it will sweep the elections. He said the conspirators will never succeed in dividing the PPP; there is no rift between Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Asif Ali Zardari.