Pakistan

Mustafa Kamal names new political movement 'Pak Sarzameen Party'

We have not come to snatch away someone’s power, says the former Karachi mayor

News Desk March 23, 2016

Mustafa Kamal addresses a press conference in Karachi on March 23, 2016. PHOTO: ATHAR KHAN/EXPRESS

Twenty days after launching his new political movement, former Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader and Senator Mustafa Kamal finally unveiled on Wednesday the name of his party the 'Pak Sarzameen Party'.

“I announce the name of our party with a prayer that may God guide and bless us. The party of people will be called Pak Sarzameen Party,” he said while addressing a gathering in Karachi's Clifton area.

“We have not come to snatch away someone’s power,” said the former Karachi mayor who blew the whistle on MQM supremo Altaf Hussain in a dramatic over two-hour-long press conference earlier this month.

“We all already had power and positions, but we threw away these privileges for the sake of people,” Kamal added.

Pak Sarzameen party leaders on stage in Karachi on March 23, 2016. PHOTO: EXPRESS

Critcising existing political parties of having their flags, Kamal said his party will not have any, and would rather hand over the flag of Pakistan to his workers.

Mustafa Kamal launches political party after no-holds-barred tirade against Altaf Hussain

“We know that the Election Commission of Pakistan will ask for a separate party flag and we will give them that. But we will not use it, will not hoist it on our houses. Instead, we will use the flag of our country."

Speaking against the making of new provinces, Kamal said it would be of no use without devolution of power to the local bodies. “If we make new provinces, there would be 20 more feudal lords instead of four. It is pointless.”

Several MQM leaders leave country amid rising confusion in party ranks

Former MQM leaders Dr Sagheer Ahmed, Waseem Aftab, Iftikhar Alam, Anees Advocate and Raza Haroon joined Kamal following his announcement to launch a new party on March 3.

He simultaneously alleged Altaf of fomenting terrorism in Karachi, calling him an agent of the India's premier spy agency RAW.

COMMENTS (24)

Syed | 8 years ago | Reply May ALLAH success Kamal Mustafa's party, Insha Allah people will turn back to TRUTH. its time to make TOBA (Repentance) from ALLAH swt. May Allah give us PEACE and tranquility ameen

farhan | 8 years ago | Reply @ shakeel but we hate imran khan. why don't some sane pti leaders join mustafa kamal instead of a brainless buffon.

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

jalbani | 8 years ago | Reply Is this the party name he came in after much consideration???

Raza | 8 years ago | Reply An other IJI. This one is not going to last long believe me.

Adnan Siddiqi | 8 years ago | Reply "Zameen" gave away the architects behind this new enterprise.

S.R.H. Hashmi | 8 years ago | Reply I just told my wife that Mustafa Kamal has named his party Pak Sarzameen Party, and she laughed. And then she said that he should have invited public to suggest a name and that way, he could surely end up with a better name. But of course Mustafa Kamal would not do a thing like that because he probably thinks that he is the last word in wisdom. I know that Pakistan was meant to be a Pak Sarzameen by which name it is referred to in National anthem. However, unfortunately, the sincere, founder leaders departed, or were made to depart, soon after the creation of Pakistan. And then we had a succession of corrupt and inept leaders who broke up the country, and have milked dry whatever was left of Pakistan. Through their extreme greed, nepotism and bad governance, they have turned Pakistan into a land which no longer seems fit to merit the name ‘Pak Sarzameen.’ And that would mean that the name ‘Pak Sarzameen Party’ would not truly represent present-day Pakistan and with the sort of people he has around him, he could not possibly secure that status for the country even in the future. I have often praised Mustafa Kamal for his performance as Karachi Nazim which earned him the title of being the Second Best Mayor in the world. However, I always remembered that his success was not of him alone but of a large team of dedicated workers, as well as whole-hearted support of MQM. And now that I see his performance in his new role, I am not impressed. For example, speaking against the creation of new provinces, Kamal said it would be of no use without devolution of power to the local bodies. Now, if Karachi is made a province – which it surely merits because of its population reported to be over 23 million people – the immediate result will be that provincial powers will shift from interior-Sindh based Peoples Party to the true elected representatives of the city. And since these leaders will win or lose future votes on the basis of services provided to the people of the city, it will make them far more inclined to devolve power further down to the local bodies level. So, the creation of additional provinces would automatically lead to devolution of power further down to local bodies. And this will be a definite improvement on the present situation where the interior Sindh based Peoples Party gets control over the whole province, including Karachi where it does not get many seats. And not only did it hack down Sindh Local Government Act, depriving the local bodies of most of their powers, it also failed to hold elections even for the much-depleted local bodies until ordered, and chased by the Supreme Court. And here is Mustafa Kamal opposing the creation of new provinces when we can clearly see that creation of new provinces will definitely help the residents of Karachi. But then Mustafa Kamal’s sole or even main interest is not Karachi because he probably sees himself as a national-level leader. And it will be the same with other provinces where the creation of new provinces will bring the seat of provincial government closer to people and will thus put pressure on them to create empowered local bodies to ensure their own survival. The population of Pakistan is more than six times of what it was at the time of partition. And this alone is justification enough for the creation of more provinces. In fact, Punjab Provincial Assembly had even passed two resolutions for the creation of South Punjab and Bahawalpur provinces but reneged on the promise later when it formed government both in Punjab and in the Centre which would have made the creation of new provinces much easier. Of course, with the creation of new provinces, it will not be possible to adopt the same lordly style that Parliamentarians have become used to and they will have to adopt much simpler ways. Karachi

Az | 8 years ago | Reply This is a joke I am going to name my party as (shaad baad party).

Sandip | 8 years ago | Reply He surprized us. We thought he was going to name it PTI(2). Anyway. Looks like everyone except the Punjabis need to keep proving their allegiance to Pakistan time and again.

Ali | 8 years ago | Reply LOL what a dumb name. Anyways congrats on launching your own party. May the badua's of Mohajirs and Altaf bhai be with you. Please do visit bridge ke is par wala karachi.

Haji Atiya | 8 years ago | Reply @Patriot: What's in a name, however catchy ? As they say: "don't judge a book by its cover.."

Jibran | 8 years ago | Reply Now this is turning into a circus.

Ray | 8 years ago | Reply Seems he didnt use his brains to get a good party name, what is he going to run this party and the country.

Firoze | 8 years ago | Reply PSP = playstation portable

ahlam | 8 years ago | Reply party name should be changed to " Mohab e watan Party"

Aluchat | 8 years ago | Reply PlayStation Portable (PSP) Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) A gaming console/game or a disease?

Aluchat | 8 years ago | Reply What a name and a half. It took them twenty days to come up with this masterpiece. Can't imagine how long will it take for them to come up with the manifesto.

Napier Mole | 8 years ago | Reply What! A press conference by Mustafa Kamal & Co and no new defection, no new slander, no sound bites for the media! Things are getting pretty lame down there in Phase V.

imran ali | 8 years ago | Reply Shafqat Amanat Ali should be made the chairman of "Pak Sarzameen Party"...This shows that he is brainless man cannot name a proper one for the party...and according to constitution no body can use national flag for it party

Patriot | 8 years ago | Reply Nice name, May Allah give this party success in complete cntry

Asad | 8 years ago | Reply Shafqat Amanat Ali should be the party's president

Shakil Ahmed | 8 years ago | Reply Nice name and very patriotic name and the day you have chosen. Good luck to you and your companions! May politics of militancy end here and fear factor dont decide Karachi and Sindh voters fate as in past!

Imran Qadri | 8 years ago | Reply So far,so good.

Munib | 8 years ago | Reply Pak Askari party is better

Shakeel | 8 years ago | Reply Why not just join PTI? He would be an asset to the PTI in Karachi. I don't like MQM, mainly because of the thuggery and the Altaf worship, but I've always admired Mustafa Kamal.

Replying to X