Punjab government to give Rs0.3m for each victim: Nawaz

PML-N chief uses visit to comment on LG system, calls for national consultation.

KARACHI: The Punjab government will give each of the victims of the Baldia factory fire Rs300,000, said the chief of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Nawaz Sharif, on a visit to the area on Friday.

“This is not compensation for their lives but just a way to lessen their financial problems,” he said.

At the site, Nawaz listened to the grievances of women who clutching pictures of their loved ones. “This is a very tragic incident, the first of its kind in [our] history,” he said.

After the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf’s Imran Khan, Nawaz is the second politician from outside Sindh to visit Karachi in connection with the tragedy in which 258 people were burnt to death on Tuesday.

Later at a press conference, Nawaz said, “If the government had acted responsibly, this disaster would have averted. I demanded that justice be given to the sufferers. Everyone, the government, the management and the owners are responsible for the deaths so many people.”

He said that it was heartbreaking that the victims were poor people, who are always worried about whether they would be able to feed their families the next day or not. “I met some families who had lost around four to five people. It was sad.”

Local government

Nawaz took this opportunity to also comment on Sindh’s new local body system that the coalition of the Pakistan  Peoples Party and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement had cobbled together under pressure from the courts and president. The other parties that form the government were so angered over not being consulted that they have formed the opposition and backed a strike call.

“Sindh does not belong to only two political parties,” remarked Nawaz. “The people of this province and all its political parties should be consulted over what system should be in place,” he said at the press conference held at Pearl Continental Hotel on Friday.

He called for a proper discussion at the top level. “The local body system is a national issue. It should be discussed in the National Assembly and the Senate.”

Questioning how two systems - commissioners and nazims - could run side by side in a province, the PML-N chief said that it was a conspiracy to divide Sindh. “A system different from the other provinces cannot work in Sindh. It is dangerous for the country,” he warned.

The government should learn lessons from the past, he went on to say before referring to the examples of the contempt of court act which was struck down, and the dismissal of Yousuf Raza Gilani as prime minister. Indeed, the ordinance has been challenged in the Sindh High Court already.

Flanked by Mumtaz Bhutto, Marvi Memon, Illahi Bux Soomro, Ghous Ali Shah and Saleem Zia, Nawaz said that his party would continue to protest against the local body ordinance until and unless it is taken back.

Meanwhile, Nawaz also touched upon the migration of Hindu families from Sindh, requesting them not to leave. “They are just as Pakistani as we are. I appeal to the Hindus, don’t leave Pakistan. This is your country.” He said that his party supported all communities, be they Sikh, Parsi or Christian.

Regarding an alliance with the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional, he said that he respected Pir Pagara. “He is my friend, and I wish that both parties work together in the future.” However when asked about an alliance with the MQM, Nawaz, did not respond positively, and ruled out any talks. “The MQM wanted to meet us and we met. I was always concerned with their agenda. Then came Altaf Hussain’s statement.” Nawaz also visited the residence of Saleem Zia, and offered condolences on his mother’s death. He also visited the family of Ahsan Pasha, a friend and leader of the PML-N, who passed away recently.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 15^th, 2012.