Karachi Political Diary

 Karachi  Political Diary  

Mubasher Mir

Intellectuals at the Karachi Literature Festival have emphasized that the establishment is the main obstacle to the flourishing of civil society institutions. And in particular, it has not allowed the institutions to become fully functional and effective. This is the reason  that civil society institutions have failed to play an effective role at present. What the intellectual community has pointed out has been expressed in the past as well and there is a history of political resistance against this behavior of the ruling forces, but it has not ended yet because the ruling forces get some political party or group in their support, thus this role has not ended.

If we look at the twenty-five years of the current century, politicians also provided the oppertunities like President General Pervez Musharraf with the opportunity to form the Muslim League-Q, religious parties under the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal provided a crutch, while the Forward Bloc of the People's Party came into being under the name Patriot, and President Musharraf succeeded in seizing power.

The PML-N and the PPP signed a democracy charter, but Mian Nawaz Sharif's relations with the ruling forces deteriorated once again and the PTI made its place and came to power with the support of the ruling forces. However, soon the PML-N, PPP and MQM reunited with the ruling forces and succeeded in removing Imran Khan as the Prime Minister before his term. After Imran Khan's differences with the ruling forces, the three parties launched a movement with the support of the ruling forces using Maulana Fazlur Rehman. It seems that this series is continuing under the nexus instead of the weaknesses of the political parties and the political struggle to gain power.

The intellectual community should urge political parties to establish democracy within their parties and believe in political struggle beyond family politics. Only then can civil society institutions become active and effective. Otherwise, it will remain a dream. Public awareness has its place, but the politics of alliances is a deadly poison for Pakistan.

Opposition parties observed February 8 as a black day and termed the election results as fraud. In Sindh, GDA also criticized the results of the last election like PTI. Questions are still being raised about the February 8 election, but political parties have adopted the habit of blaming each other but are reluctant to talk about the purification of the system. The ruling parties are trying to consolidate their power while the opposition parties are trying to bring about change through protests.

Meanwhile, an IMF review mission has arrived in Pakistan. The mission will review progress in corruption reduction, financial governance and rule of law. After taking up the IMF program, the government of Pakistan has accepted it as its monitor. What a shame for the entire nation that an independent, sovereign country is under the influence of a financial institution due to its wrong policies.

In principle, the parliament of Pakistan should play a monitoring role, but the members are not even allowed to read the bills that the parliament is passing and they are forced to support it under the agreement. In the legislation of the parliament, the members do not dare to discuss it. In such a situation, Pakistan has acquired the right to control an international financial institution that we ourselves have assigned to it. The standing committees of the parliament are also adopting the style of sitting, speaking and dismissing.

Provincial assemblies have implemented agricultural tax, this too has been done in the light of IMF orders. Not only the government of the day but also the opposition should think about this, if they come to power, they too can be treated in the same way. Therefore, Pakistan needs to have a political dialogue in a broader context so that the future Pakistan can change.

The speeding of dumpers in Karachi has claimed many lives. Announcements are also coming from political parties. Now the Sindh government has banned the transportation of dumpers in the city during daytime. Although this ban was in place earlier. Heavy traffic hours were fixed but it was not being implemented. It is not just a matter of fixing the hours but it is more important to check the inexperienced drivers.

It is also necessary to stop the entry of illegal vehicles into the city. It has also come to light that many four-wheeled vehicles are also illegal, while suspicious vehicles are also found among vehicles with official number plates. Therefore, a complete audit is needed in this regard. The Excise Department of the Government of Sindh has the highest responsibility in this. Serious efforts should be made to remedy the corruption that is happening in registration.

Pakistan Navy's peace exercise is ongoing, along with it, there is also talk about Pakistani seas and their defence. Pakistan's maritime borders are equal to half of Pakistan's area. It is as if our sea is a maritime province that is full of treasures, which we have not utilized in the way we should. Along with making Pakistan Navy effective, there is a need to improve its maritime borders for commercial purposes.

Pakistan Railways has privatized more passenger trains. Although this is a good model, it is very important to take into account merit. There is scope to make Pakistan Railways a profitable institution, for which it is necessary to adopt modern technology.

Shia Ismaili Imam Shah Karim Al-Husseini Aga Khan IV has been laid to rest in the Egyptian city of Aswan. Ismaili Muslims in Pakistan also mourned his death, while top government officials including the Prime Minister and President of Pakistan expressed their grief and sorrow over it. In fact, President Zardari reached Portugal to express his condolences.