Karachi Political Diary

 Karachi Political Diary 

Mubasher Mir

The birth anniversary of the leader of the people, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was celebrated on January 5. The purpose of celebrating the birthday is to discuss the life of that personality. Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon in the Sindh Assembly paid tribute to the founder of the PPP, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. In particular, getting the Constitution of Pakistan 1973 unanimously passed , that was his great achievement. 

In my point of view,that it is also unfortunate that the politicians who made 26 amendments to the same constitution failed to bring such amendments that would have improved governance. The primary problem in the current situation in Pakistan is political instability, which is due to politicians working at different times, instead of working on real issues, keeping their own interests in mind. Political parties have not transformed themselves into institutions. Political workers do not have the status that a political party should have. All political parties should think about how democracy will be strengthened in the country. Favoring special families will not grow democracy in the country. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's sacrifice will only pay off when political parties respect political workers.

Ms. Shazia Marri has taken the responsibility of threatening to separate from the government on several decisions of the federal government, but even a junior student of politics knows who formed the current government alliance and under what conditions. If any serious threat comes from the PML-N, it can certainly be regarding the office of the President, but the meetings between the Prime Minister and the President indicate that everything is good between them, but on the political front, verbal barrages are made only to tell the public that we are not part of the decisions, but it does not find any acceptance among the public. And public comments on social media indicate that the public is amused by the fight or rhetoric of politicians, and not worried.

In the Sindh Assembly, the MQM made a strong effort to protest and took the position that children of Karachi are being deliberately failed in large numbers in the intermediate exams. The MQM's protest is in its place, but the MQM's criminal silence on what has happened and is happening in Karachi demands an answer.

For the past few days, Karachi city has also been gripped by a severe cold wave, while the changing weather in Balochistan will further increase the cold. At the same time, people are seen in many open areas who do not have arrangements to protect themselves from the cold. All this indicates an increase in poverty. Federal government ministers are repeatedly making statements that poverty and inflation have decreased. But according to reports from international organizations, the number of poor people in Pakistan has increased. In such a situation, the claims of federal ministers seem hollow. The federal government controls energy prices and they have continuously increased. Electricity prices are out of reach of the people, while transport has become very expensive due to the increase in fuel charges. Its effects have also been felt on food items. Other essentials of life are not within the reach of the common man because there is unemployment and wages are not in line with the needs. In such a situation, public welfare projects should be started, but in Karachi city, a large number of people are seen outside the langarkhanas.

On January 5, solidarity was expressed with the people of occupied Kashmir across the country and messages were issued to commemorate the adoption of the plebiscite resolution by the United Nations Security Council in 1949. The journey of the eighth decade continues but this UN resolution has not been implemented. The sacrifices of the Kashmiris have also affected the whole world but India refused to acknowledge the world public opinion, but the people of Kashmir are waiting for the day when they will have to decide on their own merit that their future is linked to Pakistan. Pakistan is an advocate of the Kashmir cause in international forums and every Pakistani is advocating this. There are thousands of problems within Pakistan, the economy is suffering due to lack of political stability, it is facing movements like terrorism, extremism and separatism, but every government and people of Pakistan have a point of view on the Kashmir issue. Pakistan is helping the Kashmiris with every step, word, deed and is committed to providing political, legal and moral support.

Karachi Political Diary

 Karachi Political Diary  

Mubasher Mir

The 17th death anniversary of former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Ms. Benazir Bhutto, was observed at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh, where a large gathering was held and President Asif Ali Zardari also attended. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari criticized the PML-N government during his visit to Sukkur and Larkana, calling the internet shutdown especially a huge loss for the youth. The attitude of the PPP seems to be changing for the past few days. The results of the American elections have started to have a direct impact on Pakistani politics. The tweets of Richard Grenell, the designated advisor to US President-elect Donald Trump, have created a stir. Due to the same effect, PPP leaders are increasing their criticism of the PML-N, while also trying to attract the youth to their side.

Senator Shireen Rehman has been silent since Richard Grenell gave a strong response to her on the social networking site X Twitter. Almost no PPP leader has been able to respond to her.

It seems that before January 20, there may be a rapid change in the politics of Pakistan or the current government alliance may be in danger. After the humanitarian problem in Parachinar, a series of nationwide sit-ins have started, but in Karachi, especially at several important places, sit-ins have been held. When the Chief Minister of Sindh expressed his anger over this, the leaders of the sit-ins, especially Maulana Hassan Zafar, severely criticized the Chief Minister of Sindh and mentioned the incidents of burning and siege from Karachi to Kashmore on the occasion of the martyrdom of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto on December 27, 2007. While Maulana Hassan convinced the Chief Minister of Sindh that during the tenure of your government, the people of Karachi are being crushed by the tanker mafia. Thus, his response went viral on social media. An MQM delegation met the sit-in participants to express solidarity with them. The sit-in participants maintain that this is not a sit-in of a religious party but rather an expression of solidarity with the oppressed people of Parachinar. The Sindh government is using force to end the sit-in.

Jamaat-e-Islami also held a rally in support of the oppressed people of Gaza, but Jamaat-e-Islami chief Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman criticized Imran Khan in his speech. He held a rally for the people of Palestine, but he suggested Imran Khan for criticism. Surprisingly, Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman was earlier close to the PTI, but suddenly he opposed Imran Khan, as if he was close to the current government's point of view.

Karachi city is facing shortage of natural gas supply, especially along with water and electricity problems. Businessmen do not rely on Sui Gas Department SSGC, but gas cylinders are used in restaurants. Now domestic consumers are also very much affected.

Business activities in Karachi city have already come to a standstill, on top of this, water, electricity, gas and transport problems have further caused difficulties for the people. There is a lot of criticism about the Red Line project of Sindh province, the completion of which is in a difficult situation. There is a constant disruption in traffic on University Road. The Sindh government is claiming that this project will reach its completion soon, but there are no signs of it yet.

Sindh Governor Kamran Tesori has announced that for the first time in the country's history, a Governors' Conference will be held. The Sindh Governor House will host it and the expected date is January 7.

The position of the governor in the parliamentary system is constitutional. While the PPP Sindh government further reduced the powers of the governor. The governor used to be active in higher education institutions and universities, but that role has now ended. The Punjab governor has also criticized the appointments of vice chancellors by the Punjab Chief Minister, while in KPK there is a cold war between the governor and the Chief Minister. It is a good move to discuss the role of the governor in the provinces through this conference.

The fourth annual Masooma Sindh Conference was held at the Ibrahim Joyo Auditorium adjacent to the Liaquat National Library, in which the efforts to remove obstacles to the construction of the shrine of Masooma Sindh Hazrat Bibi Khadija Maham bint Imam Musa Kazim (AS) were appreciated and mischievous elements were condemned.

The Sindh government has allocated funds for the construction of the shrine of Hazrat Bibi Masooma Sindh. The Sindh Auqaf Department is working on it, but some miscreants are stopping the construction work.

Director General of Culture Munawar Ali Mahesar stressed the importance of preserving the heritage of Sindh in every possible way, and reiterated efforts to complete the construction of the shrine at the earliest. It is surprising that Sindh, which is the land of Sufism and saints, has many shrines, but obstacles are being created in the construction of the shrine of an Imamzadeh.

President Asif Ali Zardari has called investment in Sindh by Chinese investors  and in this regard he is constantly trying to get Chinese investors to invest in Sindh. The Thar Coal Project is a successful project that is continuously generating electricity. While Chinese companies are also working on the Atomic Energy Project. Work is being done to create an industrial zone on the outskirts of Karachi. While the city of Karachi itself has its own projects waiting for foreign investment. But it is surprising that the government of Pakistan and the President are not presenting these projects to domestic investors. Pakistani businessmen and overseas Pakistanis can also play a role in improving the economy, but they have to be provided with a better environment so that they can invest with confidence.