Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has reacted to the Jamaat-e-Islami protest held in Karachi a day earlier, stating that those being referred to as an “occupying group” have come into power through public votes and that strict action will now be taken against sit-ins and protests on major city roads.
Speaking to media representatives, the Sindh chief minister said it was surprising that the Gul Plaza tragedy was being unnecessarily highlighted. He added that the government’s objection was directed at those using the tragedy for political purposes, while the Sindh government has stood firmly with the affected families from the outset.
Murad Ali Shah said that following the Gul Plaza incident, the Sindh government announced compensation of one crore rupees per victim for the affected families. He stated that government representatives personally visited 26 households to deliver compensation cheques, without involving the media.
Responding to questions about Jamaat-e-Islami’s sit-in and criticism by Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman, the chief minister said that the group being labeled as an “occupying force” was elected by the people and that the public had placed its trust in the Pakistan Peoples Party. He advised Hafiz Naeem to either attend the provincial assembly or vacate his seat.
The Sindh chief minister said that Shahrah-e-Faisal remained blocked for three to four hours the previous day, which should not have happened. He emphasized that road blockages cause serious inconvenience to the public, adding that strict measures would now be taken against protests and sit-ins on major roads.
Murad Ali Shah further said that Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman holds a seat in the Sindh Assembly and should take care of the people of his constituency. Otherwise, he should step down so that the public is not deprived of proper representation.
