Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah criticised Shipping and Maritime Affairs Minister Ali Zaidi for acting 'irresponsibly' by releasing the so-called 'original' Joint Investigation Team (JIT) report pertaining to Lyari kingpin Uzair Baloch.
Speaking to reporters after outside the National Accountability Bureau office in Islamabad after being questioned by the accountability watchdog, the CM said: "I don't know where he creates [these reports] from. I believe he is in some way trying to give favours to suspects [named in the JIT]." "He acted very irresponsibly in a very important matter."
It may be noted here that Zaidi had also tried to defend Zulfikar Mirza--named in the JIT report for his support to Uzair Baloch-- in a TV show. When journalist Shahzaib Khanzada asked Zaidi about the links of Uzair Baloch and Zulfiqar Mirza on his show, he started defending the latter on grounds that he had confessed everything.
CM Murad also questioned Zaidi's story as to how he got his hands on the alleged original report. "I think he revealed someone came to his house on a motorcycle and gave him that report. If he had said that some responsible man gave it to him and now he was revealing it, it might have made sense. But this was not appropriate for a man who is a member of the National Assembly and a sensible person."
On Tuesday, Zaidi held a presser where he presented the alleged original JIT report. He had pointed out that the report made public by the Sindh government did not have crucial information as to why Uzair got involved in the murders, on whose orders did he act, and who got benefited from it. He asked as to how all of it could have happened without the government’s support. He had claimed that the top Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leadership was behind the killings committed by Baloch.
Addressing the claims of Zaidi, Murad said the JIT had seven members as opposed to six claimed by Zaidi and added that the report submitted to the Sindh home department had all seven signatures. He further said that this was the same JIT report that was submitted to the Sindh High Court in a sealed envelope, was read by the honourable judges, and then returned to the provincial government.
Responding to a question, Murad said that it was up to the federal government to decide whether an inquiry would be conducted into the matter. He added that if Zaidi had harmed the case against Baloch, proceedings would be conducted according to the law.
Speaking to reporters after outside the National Accountability Bureau office in Islamabad after being questioned by the accountability watchdog, the CM said: "I don't know where he creates [these reports] from. I believe he is in some way trying to give favours to suspects [named in the JIT]." "He acted very irresponsibly in a very important matter."
It may be noted here that Zaidi had also tried to defend Zulfikar Mirza--named in the JIT report for his support to Uzair Baloch-- in a TV show. When journalist Shahzaib Khanzada asked Zaidi about the links of Uzair Baloch and Zulfiqar Mirza on his show, he started defending the latter on grounds that he had confessed everything.
CM Murad also questioned Zaidi's story as to how he got his hands on the alleged original report. "I think he revealed someone came to his house on a motorcycle and gave him that report. If he had said that some responsible man gave it to him and now he was revealing it, it might have made sense. But this was not appropriate for a man who is a member of the National Assembly and a sensible person."
On Tuesday, Zaidi held a presser where he presented the alleged original JIT report. He had pointed out that the report made public by the Sindh government did not have crucial information as to why Uzair got involved in the murders, on whose orders did he act, and who got benefited from it. He asked as to how all of it could have happened without the government’s support. He had claimed that the top Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leadership was behind the killings committed by Baloch.
Addressing the claims of Zaidi, Murad said the JIT had seven members as opposed to six claimed by Zaidi and added that the report submitted to the Sindh home department had all seven signatures. He further said that this was the same JIT report that was submitted to the Sindh High Court in a sealed envelope, was read by the honourable judges, and then returned to the provincial government.
Responding to a question, Murad said that it was up to the federal government to decide whether an inquiry would be conducted into the matter. He added that if Zaidi had harmed the case against Baloch, proceedings would be conducted according to the law.