The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) on Tuesday demanded the enforcement of governor’s rule in Karachi besides reiterating its long-standing demand for a southern Sindh province.
An ally of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) coalition governmnent in the Centre, MQM-P said it backs the demand of traders and business community to impose governor’s rule in the port city.
The demand came to fore at a press conference held at a park adjacent to MQM-P office in Bahadurabad. MQM-P Convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Senior Deputy Convener Amir Khan, and Deputy Convener Waseem Akhter addressed the press conference along with representatives of traders and the business community.
They said that the city has been left at the mercy of robbers, extortionists and corrupt elements that collect bribery and commission from the once richest urban centre of the country. Role of the state is that of a mother, but unfortunately, the metropolitan city has been handed over to the prejudiced government of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). The city that used to make biggest contributions to the national exchequer is now being converted into one looking for aid and assistance, they said.
MQM-P backs the demands put forward by the business community and one of the demands is governor’s rule.
"I ask the prime minister and the army chief that why does the Constitution of Pakistan has the clause for implementing the governor’s rule, if it is there in the Constitution, when will it be used," Siddiqui said.
"We are not making any demand from PPP, we are warning them. Mr prime minister you have 14 MNAs from Karachi and still you are unable to save the city," he said.
The city gives 70 per cent revenue, but its population is not 70 per cent, he said. "We demand Southern-Sindh Province," Siddiqui told a cheering crowd. "Demanding a province is not treason, on the contrary, people calling it treason are themselves traitors," he said.
"We are warning the Sindh CM, if the deputy commissioners and assistant commissioners harass the traders, we will grab the by their collars," he claimed. A resolution against harassment of traders by district administration [over SOPs] has been submitted in the Sindh Assembly and another will be submitted in the National Assembly.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 2nd, 2021.
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