KARACHI - Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) on Wednesday announced to convene an all-parties conference on December 11 over local bodies bill approved by the provincial assembly, demolition of illegal structures, and other issues faced by the business hub of the country. Addressing a press conference at MQM-P headquarters at Bahadurabad, the party’s Convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said that the recently passed amendments in the local government act have paralysed the local bodies system in the biggest metropolitan in the country. “PPP has never ruled in the urban centres of the Sindh province and the current legislation was aimed at fulfilling the agenda of Sindhudesh,” he said. He said that the institutions including KIHD, KMDC, and others that were built by the KMC were even snatched from the municipal authorities through the recent legislation.
“How could we allow the ‘racist’ Sindh government to ruin institutes that were built with the money of Karachiites,” he said, asking as to how long the city that has generated 60 percent revenue for the country will be left behind on the mercy of such elements.
He asked why the chief justice is not taking notice regarding the non-implementation of Article 140-A of the Constitution that requires the installation of an empowered local bodies system.
“The courts are only interested in demolishing our building,” he said and added that the Karachiites are being deprived of jobs and admissions in educational institutes; however, no one is ready to take action against it.
He lamented that fake domiciles were used to provide jobs to over 1 million people representing a particular ethnic group.
He said that they were struggling as per law for their rights for many years and they are now forced to come out on the streets for snatching their rights. “Now Karachi’s streets and roads will speak and when they will speak it will have an impact on the entire country,” he said.
He said that employees in local bodies institutions are also demanding MQM-P to come out on Karachi roads for their rights and they now announce their support for them in their fight for rights.
“The only hurdle for the PPP to conquer Karachi is MQM-P and we will not let it happen,” the MQM-P convener said.