Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Thursday said the federal government should withdraw the notification issued in connection with the reconstitution of National Finance Commission (NFC).

Addressing a press conference in Karachi, Murad said holding a meeting of the Council for Common Interests (CCI) after every three months was mandatory.

When asked about the reports of removing the IRSA (Indus River System Authority) from Sindh, the chief minister said he had not seen any notification and the law clearly stated that the provinces had to be consulted at the time of appointment and removal of members.

In this connection, the chief minister said the Centre might have shown intention and desire to move ahead with the removal, but no formal decision had so far been made.

“I know that the prime minister will not commit any unconstitutional act. If it has been done then he will withdraw it,” he remarked.

This reply was in contrast with the provincial government’s spokesperson, Murtaza Wahab, who had said at a media briefing on Wednesday that the federal government had bulldozed the law by removing the IRSA member unconstitutionally and illegally.

It’s a one-sided decision, he said and added that the PTI was not following the law since coming into power.

It was earlier reported in media that the federal cabinet approved the process of removing the IRSA members from Punjab and Sindh for their failure to discharge the duties, especially the installation of telemetry system on the Indus Basin Irrigation System.

During his Thursday’s presser, the chief minister said the economy was destroyed due to incompetence, not coronavirus.

About the lockdown, he said the intention of the Sindh cabinet and of his were right, adding that the move produced positive results.

Murad said he would give an answer on an appropriate time, adding that an attempt had been made to play with the lives of people.

Murad said his government will announce a compensation package for the families of those people who had died of coronavirus.

As far as the NFC is concerned, PML-N leader Khurram Dastgir has already challenged its composition and requested the Islamabad High Court to set aside the May 12 notification and the authorisation to Adviser on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh to preside over the meetings.