Demanding ‘local’ power: MQM flexes muscles to get message across

Protests outside ECP office; authorities issue oath-taking notification

KARACHI:

On a makeshift stage outside the provincial election commission's office, Muttahida Qaumi Movement's mayor-nominee Wasim Akhtar shared a number of grievances with party workers.

He lamented the delayed announcements by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and demanded the notification of oath-taking of chairmen and vice-chairmen of local bodies, and immediate release of the election schedule for reserved seats so union committees can be formed and the local government system can come into place.





Akhtar was speaking to scores of party workers during the protest outside the ECP office in Saddar on Tuesday afternoon.

For the provincial government, Akhtar, in a harsher tone, announced to hold an inquiry into the activities of the local government minister from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

"It is not legal of the local government minister to give orders after December 5 or use funds. I would hold an inquiry into all tenders, and contracts which have been given out, and transfer and postings being carried out. If we find any fault, we will cancel them," he said.

The party workers had gathered to 'demand the election commission to announce the schedule, complete the election and give due rights.'

The MQM also hit at its one-time ally, the PPP, and its president. "We will not take permanent dictation from you. If you will not stop conspiring, then Asif [Zardari] sahab, take the permanent residency of Dubai for the people of the city will not tolerate you. Karachi is not your sugar mill," Akhtar said.



Akhtar said the government was implicating them in baseless cases and questioned the rule of law in the country by saying how a person in Malir can register a treason case against them simply because he did not like a news talk show.

The party's leader of opposition in Sindh Assembly, Khawaja Izharul Hassan, said if the government did not stop being an obstacle in the formation of the local government, they would not let a single session of the assembly take place.

Hassan said the PPP first delayed the delimitation process for local bodies, then the elections, then delayed making laws and was now delaying the formation of the local government.

Hassan called for the formation of union committees so the deputy mayor and mayor can come into power.

He said the chief minister held the portfolios of twenty different ministries and boards, urging him to break free and pass on the rights to the people.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 13^th, 2016.