Former allies, current foes: With loud and clear warnings, MQM asks PPP to repeal local govt ordinances
The protest by MQM is just a tactic to add pressure on the courts, says Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon .
Thousands of charged workers, accompanied by the party’s Rabita Committee, protested against the local government ordinances on Sunday. PHOTO: PPI
KARACHI:
When the Muttahida Qaumi Movement wants to register their reservations, they go all out - as they did on Sunday by taking over the entire area around the Karachi Press Club to hold a demonstration against the local government ordinances.
Thousands of charged workers, accompanied by the party’s popular faces of the Rabita Committee, accused the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party of “sowing the seeds of partition between rural and urban Sindh” by passing the ordinances in the Sindh Assembly’s Friday session.
The crowd, which included women, children and even some physically challenged individuals, shouted slogans against the ordinance, calling it a black law. They claimed that the PPP wants to steal MQM’s mandate in Karachi and Hyderabad.
“If the local bodies ordinances are not reverted, the people of Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur and Nawabshah will take to the streets and decide themselves,” warned MQM leader Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui. In his fiery speech, he made it clear that those who love MQM Chief Altaf Hussain will not accept the ‘black law’. “We do not want a partition of Sindh and till our last breath, we will fight for the rights of the people.”
Siddiqui wasn’t very subtle when it came to warning the government of the consequences of not repealing the laws, saying, “If we are pushed against the wall, then it is not only the law that we will change, but everything in Sindh.”
Dr Haider Abbas Rizvi put another demand forward at the protest, asking Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to hold a transparent census in Sindh so that the exact population of urban and rural areas could be known.
MQM deputy parliamentary leader Khuwaja Izharul Hassan vehemently called for the rejection of the bill, saying, “The PPP government has created the laws to crush the opponents.” He added that the party has approached the courts against the amendments and were hoping for justice.
According to the opposition leader in the Sindh Assembly, Faisal Sabzwari, MQM would not tolerate any conspiracy to divide Sindh. Pointing towards the performance of the provincial government, he said that the conditions of the cities and districts confirm failure of the government. “PPP secured three constituencies in the city and are now hoping to impose its mayor in Karachi.”
The protest was earlier supposed to be held in front of the Sindh Assembly’s building but according to the party leaders, they were requested by the law enforcement agencies to change the venue.
Tight security, organised by the party itself, was in place as well as a separate stall for the media.
PPP answers back
Rejecting allegations of the MQM, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said that the protest was merely a way of increasing the pressure on the courts. “Delimitations were made according to law and all political parties, including the MQM, were taken into confidence.”
While addressing a press conference at his office on Sunday, he said that the MQM was making continuous allegations and misguiding people. Memon asked MQM’s chief to take notice of the statements of the other leaders on the division of Sindh.
He also clarified that it was not the government, but relevant officials who carried out the delimitation process. “The deputy commissioners also resolved objections on the issue and all political parties, including the MQM, participated in the process.”
According to him, the MQM wanted the same delimitations as those in Pervez Musharraf’s tenure, stressing that no one would be allowed to follow the footsteps of a dictator. “When the MQM has already knocked on the door of the courts, then why are they holding protests?”
Replying to a question, Memon said that it appeared that the MQM wanted to divert people’s attention from the Karachi operation.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 23rd, 2013.
When the Muttahida Qaumi Movement wants to register their reservations, they go all out - as they did on Sunday by taking over the entire area around the Karachi Press Club to hold a demonstration against the local government ordinances.
Thousands of charged workers, accompanied by the party’s popular faces of the Rabita Committee, accused the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party of “sowing the seeds of partition between rural and urban Sindh” by passing the ordinances in the Sindh Assembly’s Friday session.
The crowd, which included women, children and even some physically challenged individuals, shouted slogans against the ordinance, calling it a black law. They claimed that the PPP wants to steal MQM’s mandate in Karachi and Hyderabad.
“If the local bodies ordinances are not reverted, the people of Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur and Nawabshah will take to the streets and decide themselves,” warned MQM leader Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui. In his fiery speech, he made it clear that those who love MQM Chief Altaf Hussain will not accept the ‘black law’. “We do not want a partition of Sindh and till our last breath, we will fight for the rights of the people.”
Siddiqui wasn’t very subtle when it came to warning the government of the consequences of not repealing the laws, saying, “If we are pushed against the wall, then it is not only the law that we will change, but everything in Sindh.”
Dr Haider Abbas Rizvi put another demand forward at the protest, asking Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to hold a transparent census in Sindh so that the exact population of urban and rural areas could be known.
MQM deputy parliamentary leader Khuwaja Izharul Hassan vehemently called for the rejection of the bill, saying, “The PPP government has created the laws to crush the opponents.” He added that the party has approached the courts against the amendments and were hoping for justice.
According to the opposition leader in the Sindh Assembly, Faisal Sabzwari, MQM would not tolerate any conspiracy to divide Sindh. Pointing towards the performance of the provincial government, he said that the conditions of the cities and districts confirm failure of the government. “PPP secured three constituencies in the city and are now hoping to impose its mayor in Karachi.”
The protest was earlier supposed to be held in front of the Sindh Assembly’s building but according to the party leaders, they were requested by the law enforcement agencies to change the venue.
Tight security, organised by the party itself, was in place as well as a separate stall for the media.
PPP answers back
Rejecting allegations of the MQM, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said that the protest was merely a way of increasing the pressure on the courts. “Delimitations were made according to law and all political parties, including the MQM, were taken into confidence.”
While addressing a press conference at his office on Sunday, he said that the MQM was making continuous allegations and misguiding people. Memon asked MQM’s chief to take notice of the statements of the other leaders on the division of Sindh.
He also clarified that it was not the government, but relevant officials who carried out the delimitation process. “The deputy commissioners also resolved objections on the issue and all political parties, including the MQM, participated in the process.”
According to him, the MQM wanted the same delimitations as those in Pervez Musharraf’s tenure, stressing that no one would be allowed to follow the footsteps of a dictator. “When the MQM has already knocked on the door of the courts, then why are they holding protests?”
Replying to a question, Memon said that it appeared that the MQM wanted to divert people’s attention from the Karachi operation.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 23rd, 2013.