ISLAMABAD: Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah on Friday asked the Supreme Court to release court notices issued to him in the interests of justice.

In accordance with the court order issued on December 11, 2020, the chief minister submitted his answer to the Supreme Court and asked the highest court to cancel the insult notification for the sake of justice.

The three-member court, presided over by Supreme Court Justice Gulzar Ahmed on December 11, while hearing the suo motu case related to the heavy losses incurred by Pakistan Railways (PR) as well as the revival of the Karachi Loop Railway (KCR) Project, has issued a derogatory notice to Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, for his failure as chief executive to carry out orders in writing and enthusiasm, approved the design development work for the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) project. The court had directed him to submit his answer within three weeks.

On Friday, the chief minister of Sindh, in submitting his reply, stated that he had great respect and respect for the entire judiciary and that he could not imagine disobeying a top court order. From the narrative of the facts presented by the respondent defendant, which is supported by documentary evidence, the undersigned that he has fulfilled the order / direction of this Honorable Court in a letter and spirit and subsequently promises to fulfill the court order. , Murad Ali Shah submits.

He informed the court that the Sindh Government was working relentlessly to bring about this most important project for the city of Karachi, however, that the federal government appeared to have lost interest in the project.

He argued that all formalities and procedures for CPEC were followed and the Framework Agreement was sent to the federal government on 6 November 2017 for federal cabinet approval and subsequently passed to the Chinese Government. EAD was asked on 9 November 2017 to forward a loan application with concession terms from the relevant Chinese authorities. The Finance Division was also asked to issue a Sovereign Guarantee for KCR on 9 November 2017, CM Sindh stated.

He did, however, convey that there had been no follow-up being taken by the federal government, which appeared to have lost interest in this nationally important project and dire conditions for Karachi residents and instead placed all their focus on the ML-1 railways. project, which literally resulted in no 2018 progress on the project.

He said that with a change of government after the general elections held in July 2018, he was again elected as chief minister by the Sindh Provincial Assembly in August 2018.

“I wrote to the prime minister of Pakistan on 3 October 2018, seeking support for this important and vital project for the city of Karachi and I asked the prime minister that the KCR project has been approved by the JCC to be implemented and even so the federal government wants to discuss it on JWG Transport, which is the subordinate body of the JCC. However, there is no support from the federal government and this was discussed in the JWG Transport which was held in October 2018, “said Murad Ali Shah.

The chief minister of Sindh stated that Pakistan Railways was unsure about the design parameters for the overhead bridge and underpass, and in order for this structure to serve the modernized KCR they wanted the final design to be prepared by the consultants hired to prepare the PPP proposal.

“It was feared that if the overhead bridges and underpasses were built according to the initial design parameters, they might have to be reconstructed to meet the final design for the modernized KCR,” Murad Ali Shah told the court.

He further conveyed that the design parameters for the overhead bridge and underpass were given by Pakistan Railways and the design prepared by FWO. The Sindh government is only playing an intermediary role and may be in conformity if a direct agreement is made by Pakistan Railways with the FWO, CM believes CM Sindh informs the court that this structure will be established. operated by Pakistan Railways, Pakistan Railways do not allow the Sindh Government to even have simple structures such as a flat railroad crossing (phatak) built on its tracks.

Pakistani Railways undertake these simple projects as storage work through deposits from GOS to Pakistan Railways, Murad Ali Shah notified the court adding that they were overseeing the design and construction of these simple structures.

The chief minister of Sindh asked the court to approve these arrangements for the construction of more complex structures such as the overhead bridge and underpass at the KCR. He said that this will greatly assist in the smooth construction of the flyover and underpass.

GOS is committed to providing all assistance to Pakistan Railways and FWO for the project, he said, adding that although the court has declared the revival and modernization of the KCR as a federal project, the Sindh Government will, if it is the highest court. So the wish is to deposit Rs. 03 billion which was allocated to Pakistan Railways after the approval required by the cabinet.