Political parties scramble for power in Karachi
It so appears that Karachi’s politics, which is often described as tumultuous, has now shifted its focus to the regional level; mobilizing workers to draw greater support to ‘empower the local government system.’
All political parties have jumped the wagon to strengthen their organizational structures in every area of the mega city. These efforts are intended to aid public relation campaigns at the union council and ward levels in advance of the forthcoming local body elections.
According to a survey conducted by The Express Tribune, Karachi’s political landscape has seen multiple shifts since the 2018 general elections, which were responsible for sending the Imran Khan government down the federal slipway.
Prior to that, much of Karachi was officially or unofficially governed by the Altaf Hussain led Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), often with an iron fist- which came to be iconised by the Liaqat Ali Khan Chowk in local lore.
While the symbol still stands today, the party that reigned supreme now appears to have frazzled out, leaving other political predators to compete for the space vacated by the once dominant MQM. Ever since then, various political outfits have been aiming for the mega city’s throne; constantly conducting political activities in a bid to sink their roots.
They say wars are won by soldiers and politics is won by public support. However, striving for power in the financial capital is combination of both, going by which the parties also appear to be busy luring and recruiting eachother’s workers all the while actively campaigning for public issues.
At present, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Jamaat-e-Islami, Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan, Pak Sarzamin Party, Pakistan Muslim League (N), Muslim League (Functional), Pakistan Muslim League (Q), Awami National Party and a few other political and religious outfits are scrambling for power in the mega city, aiming for the local body elections.
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The city’s current stakeholder party is the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which has the most MNAs and MPAs. This is followed by PPP and Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan. Whereas, PPP, PTI, PML-N, Jamaat-e-Islami and PML-F are trying to strengthen their organisational network in areas formerly considered strongholds of the MQM: Central District, District East, District West and Korangi District.
Per ongoing chatter in the city’s political circles, it is the non-alignment of parties that their strong vote bank divisions are visible in the majority areas, which has led other parties to easily strengthen their organisational network in their majority areas.
Speaking in this regard, Secretary General of PPP Sindh Waqar Mehdi said that after 2018, the politics of Karachi has changed. “Now every party in Karachi is carrying out its activities with ease. PPP’s vote bank in Karachi has increased and a large number of leaders and workers of different parties are joining us.
The Sindh government would further empower the existing local government system, while work is underway on this and we are in touch with the people for the forthcoming local body elections,” he told. Whereas, MQM Pakistan leader Muhammad Hussain was of the opinion that MQM Pakistan was trying to give the people of Sindh an empowered local government system. “That is what we are striving for. It is the right of every party to do politics. When there are local elections, the results will be in front of the people,” he expressed.
PTI Karachi President Khurram Sher Zaman believes with certain conviction that the people of Karachi have chosen PTI as their stakeholder. “We are further strengthening our organisational structure in Karachi. We will do our best to solve the problems of this city,” he allured.
Interestingly, Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi Aamir Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman, somehow also believes that his party is the voice of the people of Karachi.
“For the last several years we have been fighting for the issues of the people of Karachi on the streets. Jamaat-e-Islami has become stronger in Karachi than ever before and we want the province, including Karachi, to be given an empowered local government system,” the aamir stated.
On the other hand, as per PML-N central leader Ali Akbar Gujjar, his party is to be credited for restoring peace in the once tumultuous city constantly in the foray. “Peace has been gifted to Karachi by the PML-N leadership and the problems of city will be solved soon too,” he claimed.
Speaking further, the leader expressed that holding activities of all political parties in Karachi is a positive step. “However, my suggestion is that a dialogue or all-party conference should be held at the government level for the solution of the problems of the city, so that a serious strategy can be formulated for the solutions,” he added.
It is clear from the overall political climate of Karachi that for now, the focus of the political parties here remains on the forthcoming local body elections, for which new alliances, truces and trickery are on the cards. However, with the passage of time, it is estimated that the city’s political atmosphere is likely to grow hotter, with parties scrambling to seize power of Sindh’s crown jewel.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 23rd, 2021.