Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that the constitution of Pakistan empowered him to provide natural gas to the people of the province first and then share it with other provinces, if it is in surplus.

"The pseudo politicians, parliamentarian and ministers are creating a false impression that Sindh chief minister lacks courage to stop gas supply to other provinces.

They should read the Constitution, first," Shah said talking to the media at his native village Wahur where he has gone to observe the 10th death anniversary of his father Abdullah Shah who also served Sindh as Chief Minister.

"I advise them to read the constitution which empowers me to first meet the gas requirement of people of Sindh and then share it with other provinces," he emphasised.

The Chief Minister said that he was working hard to reduce the shortfall of electricity. He said the Sindh government had established a 100 MW power plant and laid transmission line from Nooriabad to Karachi but SSGC at behest of some ministers, who are against the move aimed at steering the country out of darkness, is reluctant to provide gas under one or the other pretext," he said making it clear that it was enough and he would not allow them to play ping pong with Sindh government, in this regard.

Terming the SSGC company's statement about provision of bank guarantee as an absurd demand, Murad Shah said these guarantees are submitted once agreement is signed.

He said people of the country were well aware hence SSGC and others must not try to hoodwink them.

Replying to a question, Shah said that Nawaz Sharif is Prime Minister of Pakistan therefore he may visit Jacobabad or any part of the province. "I am inviting him to Sehwan as well.

He should visit and sort out the problems of people," she said. Sindh chief minister claimed that Nawaz Sharif's team itself was trying to fail him because his team members were not sincere to solve the energy crisis.

He said that the IG police continued to work on the instruction of Sindh High Court. Talking about the Senate Chairman who has returned his security squad against the attitude of federal ministers, he said the PML-N never attached importance to the parliament because they believed in dictatorship.

Syed Murad Ali Shah concluding his talk said that no matter what some ministers, ruling N-League member and other 'seasonal' politicians say on the issue of gas but, he vowed he would protect and fight for rights of people of the province. "It is my mandate and it is my constitutional responsibility to do so," he concluded.

-Business Recorder