Karachi Political Diary Mubasher Mir

 Karachi Political Diary 

Mubasher Mir

The political senario is always hot in its place, but it would certainly be a shame for the Sindh government that they appear to be failing in protecting the public. The death of a child in the North Karachi area has left the entire city in shock.

The Sindh Governor also made statements for the recovery of the child, but the body of the 11-year-old child who went missing on January 7 was finally recovered from a water tank. Such inhumane crimes are happening because people are not punished even for the biggest crimes. Most people are pushed to the courts to seek justice,  and humiliated in police stations and courts due to the corrupt police system. Political parties raise their voices for their political prisoners, but remain silent about the atrocities committed against the people.

In many areas of Sindh province, news of atrocities against women and children has been coming to light. A minor girl who was also a domestic worker was sexually assaulted by a Sindh priest and then she lost her life, but the influential priest silenced the relatives with the help of the administration. The Sindh government should formulate a comprehensive strategy to remove the obstacles to justice and then implement it.

Members of the Baloch Solidarity Committee took out a procession from Lyari, raising their voices for their rights and missing persons, while conducting an awareness campaign for a rally to be held in Dalbadin  but Karachi police arrested several people and beat up the rally participants.

It is surprising that the government cracks down on even peaceful rallies. According to the Constitution of Pakistan, the right to peaceful protest cannot be taken away from any citizen.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman, while addressing a seminar at the Karachi Press Club, also spoke about the rights of the people of Balochistan and called for the government to play a role in recovering missing persons.

After the verdict of the accountability court against former PTI chairman Imran Khan in the Al-Qadir Trust case, there has been a reaction from political leaders in Karachi. The PPP has supported the verdict, while the PPP is also a party whose three prime ministers have been victims of court decisions, in this regard, they are of the opinion that justice was not done to their leaders in the courts. While President Asif Ali Zardari has also been facing many cases, now that former Prime Minister Imran Khan has been sentenced, the PPP ministers have a different approach. It is as if political opposition is supported or opposed.

His party is going to challenge the decision made against the former prime minister in the High Court regarding the Al-Qadir Trust. There are many questions and unanswered questions in this regard, which are likely to come up in the High Court.

The sealed envelope that the former prime minister waved at the federal cabinet meeting to seek approval from ministers was not presented in court, and its contents should also be presented before the court.

If the UK crime agency had talked about the transfer of funds from the Pakistani government, then their correspondence should have also been presented in court. Surely the High Court will also reveal who bought which property in the UK with the money illegally sent from Pakistan.

It seems that some other facts related to this case are expected to come to light, which will help in forming a final opinion. While if the former Prime Minister took benefits for himself, they will also be evident. The decision has said that Al-Qadir Trust should be taken into the custody of the government. This decision also demands an answer as to what is the procedure for taking any private trust into government custody in Pakistan. Can the government appoint an administrator or dismiss the trustees? Of course, there will be a detailed discussion on this in the High Court.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has directed the Chief Minister of Sindh to establish a media university in Sindh. This is certainly a good announcement. In order to prepare the youth for the media industry in the future, there is a need to provide modern media education and modern media practices must also be adopted. In the current situation, the media industry is facing serious difficulties and problems, and full attention should be paid to this.

The work of the canal originating from the Kotri Barrage has not been completed yet, so there has been a disruption in the supply of water to Karachi. The water requirement of the city of Karachi is about 1200 cusecs per day, but there is a shortage of water supply, while the problem of its distribution mechanism does not end for the people. Along with this, if there is a disruption in the electricity system, the problems become doubly severe. The Water Board has not yet succeeded in creating an integrated system, while the Mayor of Karachi directly supervises it.

The Mayor of Karachi has also directed the MQM’s welfare organization Khidmat-e-Khalq Foundation to use the property under its management legally. He believes that if the property under use is not allotted legally, it will be addressed under the KMC rules.

Many welfare organizations are working in Karachi city but many important properties are also under their use. Illegel settlements have been established on the sides of important highways, a policy should be given in this regard too. Every society needs welfare work but it is also necessary to establish a system for it. If the welfare organizations of political parties violate the law, then they will lose the moral justification to make statements about others.

There is a fear of the spread of Corona  in the city of Karachi. Many diseases arise due to dry cold. The poor sanitation system in the city has already made life unbearable. The city government should work together with the Ministry of Health to combat this situation.

Karachi Political Diary

 Karachi Political Diary 

 Mubasher Mir

Since the formation of Pakistan, the city of Karachi has been expanding in a very strange way, where hundreds of slums have also been settled. For the past several years, efforts have been made to correct the town planning of this city, but stakeholders rarely agree on any one point. There was a lot of delay on the Lyari Expressway, but it has not yet been able to play a role in reducing the heavy traffic of the city. Similarly, the Northern Bypass is not of such a quality that the heavy traffic of Karachi Port can make it its passage. Now the Malir Expressway has been started, the first section of which was inaugurated by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and this 9-kilometer road was named Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Expressway. On this occasion, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari called it the most important in the development works of Karachi. A few days ago, he was announcing in Sukkur that the federal government and especially the PML-N’s thinking about motorways and metros is limited, now he himself has called the highway an important milestone.

However, it is necessary to understand that roads, railways, airlines, shipping and internet in telecommunications are all important sectors, all are important in their own place, none is less. For fast-paced development, it is necessary to connect all of them with the latest system. Circular railway is very important among the postponed projects of Karachi city, to start it, the federal and provincial as well as the Karachi city government should also intensify efforts. Now it seems that there should be a railway track on the Karachi-Hyderabad motorway because new cities are being built here. In the near future, a large population of Karachi city will move here, for which only the passenger train can provide cheap travel. If the government is interested, a consortium of new housing schemes to be built on the motorway can be organized, which can lay the railway track in collaboration with the federal and provincial governments, this can be a wonderful project of the future.

The first Governors Conference was held at the Governor House Sindh, in which the importance of making the constitutional role of the Governor effective was emphasized. The country has a parliamentary system in which the President in the federation and the Governor in the provinces perform their duties as the representative of the state. Looking at the economic condition of Pakistan, we can say that we cannot afford to run a large administrative system, for this it is necessary that the country has to spend immense resources in the administrative sector, which should be relieved. At present, these positions are often given not for the balance of power between political parties but to convey interests. The position of Governor seems to be redundant, the Governor of Sindh has successfully tried to use it in the public interest with his expertise, for which he has received public recognition.

Pakistan should create new provinces and have only elected provincial chief executives, while the country is in dire need of an effective local government system. Political parties should make serious efforts to make urban governance effective to involve the people in power.

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif visited Karachi and appreciated the performance of the stock exchange. The market was showing a negative trend on the arrival of the Prime Minister, but the index crossing the psychological threshold of one lakh in this entire year is a milestone, but the market volume is still very small because the value of the domestic currency is very low compared to the dollar. But the active and dynamic stock market is welcome.

The Prime Minister must surely realize that the industry is facing a very difficult time due to the high electricity and gas prices, while the domestic consumers have been hit hard by inflation. Although interest rates have come down, construction and real estate are not yet fully operational. Pakistan needs a coherent economic plan, but this is possible only when there is political stability in the country and all political parties come together to create a coherent economy. So far, the talks between the government and the opposition have been volatile. Democracy will flourish only when the importance of the opposition is recognized and public opinion is respected.

Although Bilawal Bhutto Zardari criticized the federation on the occasion of the inauguration of Shahrah Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and said that Sindh is being treated like a stepmother. The PPP is inquiring about the canal project from the federation, but the nationalist parties of Sindh are suspicious of the PPP and are openly criticizing that the PPP is apparently criticizing the federation regarding the Cholistan Canal, but in reality it has given its tacit consent to the federation. Shah Mehmood Qureshi has also addressed the PPP from jail that if you have any objection to the canal project, you should separate from the government alliance.

It is very difficult for the PPP to succeed in this style of politics. In Sindh, it has to remain in government at all costs, so it can only be a friendly opposition, but the Prime Minister is in his position with their votes. In reality, there is no threat to either of these parties from each other except  PTI, they are just playing a friendly match with each other.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari must be aware that Karachi’s number one problem is access to clean water. All the claims made about water supply have not been proven true. The tanker mafia has the support of influential political figures, unless the Sindh government cleans it up, it will not get public acceptance. Justice will have to be worked on to fix the water distribution system. If a particular area and group is being provided facilities above merit, then this system will never be right.

If Bilawal Bhutto Zardari wants to win the hearts of the people of Karachi, he should play a role in solving the water problem, otherwise his statements will not be of any benefit. Water is a profitable business in Karachi city, but it can only be run under the patronage of some people from the Water Board. An effort should be made to break the network of such people, only then will the people get real benefits.

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.