KARACHI: Following his meeting with the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice MianSaqibNisar on Saturday, Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Syed Murad Ali Shah talked to people protesting outside the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) and listened to their concerns. CM Murad met CJP in his chamber and then conversed with protestors gathered outside the SCP. Reportedly, on seeing hundreds of people carrying banners, placards and handbills CM Murad Ali Shah got off his car and listened to them. He ordered redressal of the grievances which were related to his government. Some of the people had grievances against federal government institutions while others complained to the CM about the slow trial of their cases in the lower courts. Land Cases: Some fifteen women and men along with their children told the chief minister that Sardar Sher Mohammad Rind and his people had illegally occupied their lands in Nawabshah. They requested the CM to intervene in the matter,get their lands vacated and give them protection. They also said that they were trying to meet CJP for retrieval of the possession of the land. The CM then directed chief secretary to obtain a detailed report regarding the issue from Hyderabad commissioner. Mohammad Anwar, son of Abdul Karim, told the chief minister that he had purchased two plots from Hameed Khan at Raees Goth, Baldia Town. He said that he had made payments for the plot and had constructed a house there but his house was illegally taken over by Hameed Khan. He also alleged that Hameed Khan was also involved in China cutting over 1000 acres at Raees village. Thechief minister assured him that he would look into the matter and resolve his issue. Nasreen Bibi of village Mozae, Rajanpur told the chief minister that she was widowed and and living with her six innocent children. She said that some local influential people had illegally occupied her home and 14 acre agricultural land on 10th ofMoharram. She said that she wanted to meet Chief Justice of Pakistan to get her land vacated from the land grabbers.The chief minister assured the woman that he would send her application to Punjab government. Yousif Ali and some other people told the chief minister that some policemen of Shahrah-e-Faisal Police station had illegally occupied their homes. They appealed the chief minister to redress their grievances. Service Matters: The employees of Sindh Government Children Hospital located in North Karachi told the chief minister that their hospital was being run on Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode. They said that they had not been paid salaries since the last three month. At this chief secretary Mumtaz Shah told the chief minister that there were some audit issues, therefore their salaries had been delayed. The chief minister directed chief secretary to personally intervene and release their compensation. Around 46 constables who had been ousted from service after taking their examination once again were also among the protestors. They said that they were appointed in 2012 and had passed basic Recruitment Training Course from Saeedabad. They said that later the Supreme Court ordered their re-examination in which they were failed. They said that they were removed from their jobs on the pretext that they failed the re-examination. . The chief minister said that he would consider their request. Bahawal Khan of Sinjhoro, Sangharsaid that he was appointed as a workshop instructor in the Education Department back in 2013. He said that the education department had not paid him since March 2014 and had offered no justification for this. CM Murad assured him that he would look into the matter and summoned a detailed report from the education department. Six male and female teachers employed by Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) told the chief minister that their salaries had been stopped from 2015. They requested the chief minister to order release of their salaries. The chief minister sent an application to secretary local government for inquiry purpose. Disappearance Cases: Salma Ali told the chief minister that her son Syed Ali Rizvi was picked up by some people dressed in civil dress in two police mobiles in November 2015. She said that her son had not returned since then. She informed the CM that she had filed a petition regarding the matter in the high court but no action had been taken so far. CM Murad assured her that he would take necessary measures to recover her son. Ms Rehana told the chief minister that personnel of a law enforcement agency picked up her son Rawalfrom her home on October 10. She said that she had no clue why he was picked up and where he was. CM Murad assured her that he would take all necessary measures to recover her son. Gulnaz and Mohammad Saleem told the chief minister that their son Mushtaq alias Adil was arrested on July 29, 2015 from Usmanabad and the news of his arrested was aired by all the news channels. They said that they had no clue where their son was. CM told them that he would look into the matter. Abdul Hameed of Qayumabad appealed to the chief minister to get his 14-year-old daughter, Asma, recovered. School Fee: A large number of parents were staging a protest against private schools for charging exorbitant fees. They told the chief minister that the private schools were threatening them to oust their children or declaring them failed in examination in case they failed to pay their huge fees. The chief minister directed the chief secretary to redress their issues and implement the SCP order on school fees. Interestingly, a 67-year old man namely Abdul Qadir told the chief minister that his wife ShahinaParveenused to teach in a local government school in Baldia. He said that Shahina passed away on February 13, 2017 and he began receiving her pension. He said that the local government told him that his late wife’s pension would be discontinued if he got married. “Now, I want to marry but they are stopping my pension,” he said and requested the chief minister to order continuation of his pension so he could re-marry. The chief minister told him that his case was typical. “I can’t stop you from getting married, that is your choice but as far as your pension is concerned I’ll consult the rules and see if continuation of pension is permitted in such a case,” said the CM. Published in Daily Times, October 28th 2018.