‘Sindh’s cities turned into large villages’

MQM-P leader slams Sindh govt for economic decline of urban centres

KARACHI: Urban areas in Sindh, mired down by corruption, economic decline, plundering of resources and racism, have been turned into "large villages," said Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui on Saturday.

Addressing a press conference at MQM-P's temporary head office, Siddiqui held the Sindh government responsible for the "decline of Sindh's urban centres" and claimed that their progress over the past 50 years was hampered by the quota system.

"Feudal lords have taken control of industries, banks and educational institutes [in Sindh's cities]," he said. He accused the Sindh government of taking over Karachi's resources and making appointments and transfers in police departments on the basis of "language and domicile," implying that the provincial government exercised nepotism, favouritism and racism.

Siddiqui further said that Sindh Testing Service had fallen victim to corruption and hence, "will only produce corrupt officials."

"Who will identify whether appointments in Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC) are made on the basis of merit or not?" asked Siddiqui. He called attention to the "injustice meted out to Karachiites," warning that if the problem remained unaddressed, the party would stage a protest and encircle the offices of deputy commissioners and SPSC.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 15^th, 2020.