Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Arbab Rahim has damaged the reputation of Pakistan Muslim League (PML) Sindh, and should provide evidence of corruption if there is any, dismissed provincial minister Imtiaz Sheikh said. Talking to NNI on telephone on Saturday, he said, "The CM has moved against me to protect his chair. All, including the journalists, know very well that Arbab Rahim is accused of encouraging women smuggling and through his men killed a journalist who had exposed his engagement in the lenience crime of smuggling women."

He challenged the Chief Minister to tell in public if there was any evidence of corruption against him. "The right of allotting any plot to anybody rests with the Chief Minister. The CM should provide evidence that where is that land which I have transferred in my name. He should also dare enough of telling that who is the purchaser of the so called land in my name," Imtiaz said.

He also alleged the brother of the Chief Minister was involved in corruption "I have evidence of his corruption and would submit the same in the meeting at Islamabad."

Imtiaz said his dismissal was set back to the PML in Sindh and added, "the CM has been pursuing a conspiracy to damage the league's presence in Sindh."

"I have spoken to President PML Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain on telephone. Chaudhary Sahib has told me that a meeting will be convened after the return of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz from his tour to Saudi Arabia for taking decision at the party level over the situation developed after my dismissal by the CM," he said.

The expected meeting, he said should also be attended by CM Rahim besides the PM, President of League, other senior leaders of the party and "myself". "I will show the meeting the real picture of the CM and the later is also free to submit the evidence of the corruption charges against me."

Copyright News Network International, 2005