KARACHI: “Rolling back 18th Amendment and reducing NFC Award share is undemocratic since under the constitution NFC share can only be enhanced, not reduced” This was said by Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Syed Murad Ali Shah while talking to newsmen at Garhi Khuda Bux where he arrived along with some of his cabinet members to pay homage to the departed soul of Mother of Democracy Begum Nusrat Bhutto on her 7th death anniversary. Replying to question CM Murad Shah said that we want assemblies should complete their term but in-house change was also a part of democracy. “Two assemblies completed their tenure since 2008 and we would like to see the current assemblies complete their tenure as well,” he said. Murad Ali Shah claimed that fake cases were registered in the past against Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, Asif Zardari and even Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was martyred in a fake case. “They have become habitual of lodging fabricated cases against the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leadership. He further said former president Asif Ali Zardari had remained in jail for 8 or 9 years without any conviction. Replying to a question about price hike and unemployment, Sindh CM said that they will soon give jobs on merit and provide other resources. He said that the federal government policies affected price hike. He said they had increased gas rates and now they were going to increase electricity tariffs. He said federal government had just announced increase in rates of POL and gas but provincial governments had to deal with after-effects of all these policies. CM Murad said that the government will try to provide employment opportunities to the people to alleviate poverty. “We will bring stability in prices keeping in view our resources,” he added. In response to another question pertaining to rice farming, CM Murad said that subsidies were not possible. “We have been giving subsidies on wheat but it will not be possible for us to provide subsidies on paddy crop because our resources do not permit it,” he said. Praising Begum Nusrat Bhutto, Shah said that she was a very brave lady and she rendered countless sacrifices for cause of democracy. “She fought against dictator Zia,” he added. Excise and Taxation Minister Mukesh Chawla, Aijaz Jakhrani and other were also present on the occasion. Large number of PPP activists also attended Quran Khuwani held at Bhutto House in Naundero. PPP-SB activists also held recitation from Holy Quran at Al-Murtaza House in Larkana and prayed for the departed soul. Published in Daily Times, October 24th 2018.