Change is the vote: KTN CEO teams up with Marvi Memon to launch party

Sindh’s newest political movement prepares for a key rally in Bhitshah on Sunday.

KARACHI:

Posters and billboards for a movement of ‘change’ have sprung up all over Sindh as a new political party seems to be readying for its launch on January 22 at a rally in Bhitshah.

At the helm is Ali Kazi, who has been talking about change for the people of Sindh for the last five years.

He is the editor of prominent Sindhi newspaper Kawish and CEO of the Kawish Television Network (KTN). “I was writing for years but did not see anyone seriously come forward,” he told The Express Tribune over the phone. “There is and will be no miracle. I want to see a prosperous Sindh for future generations.” He feels that there is a common perception that politics means power but in reality, he sees change through the vote.

In Hyderabad, songs waxing lyrical about Kazi boom from speakers and rickshaws are plastered with stickers of his image. He has been joined by people like former Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) MNA Marvi Memon, who are looking to Sindh as the game-changer province and have been actively campaigning across its lands.

Kazi has held 187 public events in the last 32 days to invite people to the cause. “People have to decide their own fate,” he said. “Let’s see how they respond to the call for change. We will disclose the name of the party and plan on Sunday, if people support us as we expect.”

A 25-acre space for the rally is being prepped for Sunday’s public gathering at Bhitshah, and the team of the new party is expecting thousands of people from different parts of the province to gather there.

Businessman Ashfaque Memon, known for making energetic speeches, told this newspaper that there was a vacuum of leadership in Sindh. “It’s the start of a political journey and we’ll have a political set-up, if people respond to it according to the target we have in our mind,” he explained. “This is against the feudal mentality, not against a particular man. There is bad governance and people need a change but there is no one to lead them.”

He stresses: “We are first pro-Sindh and then pro-Pakistan. We are not against the federation.

For Marvi Memon, it will be a “referendum day” for the people of Sindh. “They will create a new political alternative if they want by showing up.”

When asked if the party would just focus on provincial issues, Marvi said that Sindh’s issues cannot be separated from Pakistan’s. Sindh’s issues are linked to the federation and international environment. “(When) Sindh is fixed, it will be a huge beginning to eventually fix all of Pakistan.”

The former MNA does not believe that there is no space for a new political party in Sindh. In fact, she insists that there is no “alternative”. “Sindh has unfortunately been blessed with a lot of political parties,” she said. “But the mindset – the ‘bothaar’ (feudal) – exists in a sector in-charge or in an SHO or feudal. These are old politics.” The ‘new politics’ is good governance, rule of law and institution building.

In the past month of campaigning, Memon says she has been “humbled by the respect and saddened by the miseries” she has seen.

The new political movement will not be closed off. “We are not anti-agriculturalist,” Memon says. “There are good agriculturalists as well. Anyone can join if they are not associated with or practicing the feudal mindset.”

Mehtab Rashidi, whose image also appears on advertisements for the rally, is a bit more cautious. Just amassing a number of people at a rally is not the main idea. “Let’s say a few hundred thousand show up - and I’m being optimistic (at estimating that),” she says. “But what next? That’s a big question mark.” She points out what many people demand of anyone eyeing an election: “He has to work on the roadmap. What type of change? How can you change the mindset overnight or in weeks? What happens if early elections are called - is he prepared for that? He has to do a lot.”

For her part, Rashidi feels that Kazi needs the support of the intelligentsia in Sindh. “They have not been approached yet,” she points out. “There need to be prominent people. There’s a long way to go.”

She says she will not be attending the rally because of personal commitments.

Kazi strikes an optimistic note. “This is against the political culture that has done nothing for the betterment of the people. Our plan is for a better and prosperous Sindh. It is not a call to just come for a day. It is a concept.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 21^st, 2012.