Karachi Political Diary

 Karachi Political Diary  

Mubasher Mir

Pakistan Day is celebrated every year in memory of the Pakistan Resolution, when celebrations were held to commemorate the passing of the Lahore Resolution on 23 March 1940.  A historic convention was held under the leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah from 22 to 24 March 1940 in which the All India Muslim League passed a resolution to grant autonomous status to Muslim majority areas. This resolution was presented by Maulvi AK Fazal Haq while it was prepared by a committee of nine people. Later, it was renamed the Pakistan Resolution and the Minar-e-Pakistan was built in Minto Park in its memory. On every national day, the question arises as to why the objectives of Pakistan's existence were not fulfilled. Why could Pakistan not become an ideal state? The answer is very simple, colonial thinking is still prevalent among the rulers in Pakistan, under which this country is being ruled, the people have not been given a share in power.

On the occasion of Pakistan Day, the President of Pakistan  also bestowed high civil awards. Surprisingly, every year some awardees  are controversial, as if some awards are decorated based on personal desires. Karachi-based businessman and the President’s right-hand man Khawaja Anwar Majeed has been awarded the Hilal-e-Imtiaz, which is considered the most controversial award. The President’s speech is being commented  on social media and his act of awarding his friend is also under criticism. The award given to Umar Farooq was also surprising everyone. At a ceremony held at the Governor House in Sindh, the Governor of Sindh has also given an award to the Vice Chancellor of Dawood University of Engineering and Technology, Dr. Samreen Hussain, the wife of the President’s friend and PPP leader Dr. Asim Hussain. Although she is the head of a higher educational institution, questions are also being raised about her being the wife of a former petroleum adviser. Awards are a recognition of the services of any individual by the state, so it should be based on merit.

On 21st Ramadan, a peaceful procession was taken out on Ali Day, and gatherings were held to mark the martyrdom of the fourth Caliph, Amir-ul-Mu'minin Hazrat Ali Ibn Abi Talib (AS). The main procession started from Nishtar Park. Hazrat Ali's personality is known in Islamic history for his courage, patience, and eloquence. He was counted among the loyal companions of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). To pay tribute to his bravery, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan has named the highest award for martyrdom in the Pakistani armed forces as "Nishan-e-Haider". It is given for setting a high example of bravery. Hazrat Ali's decisions are considered prominent in history, while the book containing his sermons is Nahjh ul Balagha. Hazrat Ali's biography was written by Mufti Jafar Hussain, which was published as Seerat Amir-ul-Mu'minin. His Caliphate was a symbol of justice and fairness. A detailed book was written on this by the Lebanese Christian researcher " George Jordac " which was published in 1956. Its English translation was published as Voice of Human Justice. Hazrat Ali's letter to his governor of Egypt, Malik Ashtar, was a high example of guidance on governance.

The discussion on the upcoming budget in the Sindh Assembly has been completed, the purpose of which was to decide what the new year’s budget should be like, on which the opposition leader took a pleading stance that the budget should be made for the people. The opposition in the Sindh Assembly seems to be working in a friendly manner. It is not in a position to create any difficult situation for the PPP. Since the PPP and MQM are the alliance parties of the PML-N in the federation, no major differences seem possible. The budget of the provincial governments is anyway influenced by the federal budget. They have to get money from the federation under the NFC, and they make their projects using it. So far, all the provincial governments have not given importance to education and health, while the local government system is not among their priorities. Without this, it does not seem possible for the condition of the people to improve. The provincial government has not yet been able to solve the two main problems of Karachi, clean water and transport.

MQM keeps presenting its complaints to the federal government, federal ministers are trying to reduce their grievances to appease them, now another of their members has been included in the federal cabinet, on MQM's complaint, Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal attended a Zoom meeting from Saudi Arabia and MQM leaders also discussed Karachi projects with him.

The MQM's style of politics has weakened the case of Karachi, while the disgrace that was showered on the PTI is still ongoing. The people of Karachi and the business community are also raising their voices, but the federal government is not working directly on Karachi, while the provincial government's style of governance has become a serious problem for the citizens of Karachi. The mayorship of Karachi has also been handed over to the PPP, but despite this, the splendor of Karachi is not being restored. Only a better local government system can help to solve the problems.

Former federal minister and renowned jurist Barrister Khalid Anwar passed away in Karachi this month. He was the son of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Chaudhry Muhammad Ali and father-in-law of Supreme Court Justice Muneeb Akhtar. He was 86 years old. He fought the case of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the Supreme Court and as a result, Nawaz Sharif was restored to the prime ministership. Later, there were conflicting reports about how Mian Nawaz Sharif’s father Mian Muhammad Sharif influenced the case through his long-time friend and legal advisor Justice Rafiq Tarar, who was later elected President. Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto had strongly criticized the decision at the time and called it a " CHAMAK, “spark”. Barrister Khalid Anwar had complete access to constitutional matters, he was also elected a senator. Khalid Anwar was born in Delhi and died in Karachi.

Karachi Political Diary

 Karachi Political Diary 

Mubasher Mir

Nationalist parties in Sindh province and then the opposition, including the GDA and the Tehreek-e-Insaf, have started opposing the six canals across the country. Given the sensitivity of the situation, the Pakistan Peoples Party, which previously avoided open opposition, has now presented a resolution in the Sindh Assembly on the six canal project and demanded that the federal government stop the project. The resolution against the six canal project in the Sindh Assembly was presented by the Chief Minister of Sindh. Earlier, President Asif Ali Zardari addressed the joint session of parliament at the beginning of the new parliamentary year and advised the federal government to abandon the plan to draw canals from the Indus River. Thus, the Green Pakistan Project, which was formally inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Punjab and the Chief of Army Staff, may face difficulties.

Before the current situation, a meeting was held in the President’s Office in mid-July last year on the six-canal project. It was chaired by President Asif Ali Zardari. Senior military officers also attended the meeting. The President was briefed on the six-canal project in the meeting and the Green Pakistan project was endorsed by the President. He also issued orders in that meeting for the early completion of the project. These canals include Chashma Right Bank, Kachhi, Raini, Greater Thal, Cholistan and Thar. Surprisingly, the President had supported the project last year and expressed interest in its completion, but now, seeing the changing course of politics, he has also changed his stance. What kind of U-turn is this?

The Bhutto legacy has started to be discussed in the politics of Sindh province. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Jr. has become politically active. He meets the people in the interior areas of Sindh and speaks in Sindhi and has even addressed a few events in Sindhi. In this way, he is getting acceptance. It remains to be seen whether Asif Ali Zardari and his two children, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, are also in active politics. Who will maintain their claim on the political legacy of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto? This will be an interesting situation. After the assassination of Murtaza Bhutto and Shahnawaz Bhutto, their children continued to live a quiet life. Ghinwa Bhutto kept her group active to some extent, but Fatima Bhutto did not take interest in politics. Now Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Jr. is also influencing the Sindhi people. He has not turned his attention to other provinces.

For a few days, there was a rumor that the federal government intends to significantly reduce petrol prices, but this turned out to be a delusion of the public. The federal government has dashed the hopes of the people who are suffering from inflation by announcing that it will maintain the prices of petrol. The federal government is committed to the policy of generating revenue from energy. Due to which the industry, commercial activities and domestic consumers are in a bad situation. The federal government has not yet been able to take decisions that will restore public confidence and make investors willing to make new investments. The most important thing in this is unproductive expenditure. The government is spending money unnecessarily on administrative matters and the performance of officers and members of parliament is disappointing. Along with this, the severe wave of terrorism has created an atmosphere of fear. Balochistan and KPk provinces are being directly affected by terrorism, which is a cause for concern.

The Sindh Assembly has strongly condemned the incidents of terrorism, while the Pakistan Army and security agencies have been praised for their successful operation in the Jaffar Express tragedy. After the Jaffar Express tragedy, terrorism has also occurred in Nushki. This is a moment of reflection, if the government does not have public acceptance, it cannot control even small incidents. At present, the federal and both provincial governments (KPK and Balochistan) are under severe pressure.

The public expects their governments and security agencies to provide them with all possible protection, but the surge in terrorist incidents over the past few months has created a sense of insecurity. If the government intends to hold an All Parties Conference, it will first have to end the political strife in the country.

Economic activities have also slowed down to some extent during Ramadan. But food service organizations are very active. Along with this, Every one is also actively participating in charity.

Turkish Consul General Cemal Sangu has established a wonderful tradition, his government is helping the needy in most countries of the world during Ramadan and is also organizing special Iftar dinners for special people.

Consul General of Turkie Karachi organized an Iftar dinner with mothers at Aghosh Trust and presented them with gifts. On this occasion, Consul General Cemal Sango said that they have organized big Iftar parties in many areas of Karachi and Sindh, including the cities of Dadu and Mirpur Khas, while Iftar dinners have been organized in Lyari and Baldia in Karachi. Surely, this is the best gift of Ramadan from the brotherly country of Turkie to Pakistanis.

Karachi Political Diary

 Karachi Political Diary 

 Mubasher Mir

    Political iftar parties are also ongoing in Ramadan. Member of National Assembly Mirza Ikhtiar Baig, who belongs to the Pakistan Peoples Party, organized a grand iftar party at his house in which important personalities from all walks of life participated. On this occasion, members of the ruling parties were present in large numbers, while the business community and Consul Generals also participated. On this occasion, people were trying to learn about Air Karachi, a new airline, many business people have been associated with this project. Renowned builder Hanif Gohar said that initially Air Karachi will be started with three aircraft. For which Airbus aircrafts are being acquired on lease. Of course, this is a good initiative that Pakistani businessmen have tried together. An example of this was set in Sialkot, it is to be hoped that the business community will also invest in road and rail systems because more people travel by this transport, while for sea travel, public investment in cruises should also be encouraged.

The Sindh Governor is also organizing Iftar and Sehri gatherings this year. A public Iftar party is organized in the Governor House in the true sense, while the Sindh Governor is also participating in Sehri parties. He has dedicated himself to public gatherings in this regard. Although he does not have administrative powers, he keeps disturbing the PPP by increasing his contact with the public. PPP members criticize him in this regard. The Sindh government spokesperson has also criticized his statements.

The Sindh Governor has made several statements on issues like unrest in the city of Karachi, heavy traffic problems, water shortage, etc. that he can play his role in it. Karachi's metro service, Orange and Green Line, have been handed over to the government. It is to be hoped that the transport department will run it better, while the Red Line project is pending. People on University Road have been humiliated and humiliated for the last two years, but the pace of work is very slow.

A lawyers' rally was held from Hyderabad to Karachi in which the six canals project was declared against Sindh. The government of Pakistan has so far been unable to give an effective response to it. They should have brought the maps and details of the canals to the public and then explained the reasons for it. Sindh organizations and political parties are opposing this project.

According to informed sources, former President Dr. Arif Alvi did not agree to this project, but the PPP and President Asif Ali Zardari have supported it on one side, while some people also support the opposition, while instead of opposing the canals, there is talk of Sindh water. Tehreek-e-Insaf has also announced to protest against six canals. Thus, more parties are joining the protest. The delegation of Tehreek-e-Tahafuz Ain Pakistan was demanded by the GDA leadership, Pir Pagara, to support the protesr against new canals. Therefore, now Tehreek-e-Insaf will also join this protest. But still, the federal government should remove the reservations of all political parties and groups. The special thing about this protest was that Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Jr. also participated in it.

MQM has got another ministry in the federation. Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui was holding the Ministry of Education, while now Mustafa Kamal has been given the Health portfolio. Thus, the two most important sectors of education and health have been given to MQM. If both ministers want, they can do very big things. Although education and health are the responsibility of the provinces and the provinces have more budget in this regard, but despite this, federal ministers can serve the people in matters of education and health. The need is to work on new ideas. Ministerial affairs should not be run in the traditional way.

Mustafa Kamal has worked as the Mayor of Karachi, so he has experience of working at the grassroots. He can provide better services by bringing innovation in the Ministry of Health. Apart from this, the health department of MQM has also been working under his supervision. The institutions of Khidmat-e-Khalq Foundation were under his supervision, so he has the ability to show performance in all these matters, so hopes can be pinned on him.

International Women's Day was celebrated in various sectors and institutions, as if this festival has now become a permanent status. A large number of women in Pakistan are now turning into the workforce. Many institutions are headed by women, while women are fulfilling the most important responsibilities in the corporate sector and public institutions. They are also represented in parliament, although it is dominated by traditional political families, but women from other families are also making their place. Although it is a bright side that women are also moving forward in the field of education, there is also a dark side that cannot be ignored. When the figures come before us, our hair stands on end. The number of women killed in the name of honor is not small. Women who are victims of oppression, cruelty and sexual violence are also in large numbers. It is a pity that it is not decreasing every year, while a ministry for the development of women has also been established at the federal and provincial levels, but its performance is not remarkable yet.

Women are getting very few employment opportunities at the small cities, towns and village level. For this, it is necessary to provide training to women in the IT sector so that they can get employment even while living in their homes. In addition, the number of hostels especially for women in cities is negligible and the quality of transport is not good enough that women face travel difficulties on a daily basis.

Therefore, there is a need to build working women hostels. There are large residences at the disposal of government officials at the division, district and tehsil levels, it is not difficult to create space for women hostels in them. Provincial governments can play a greater role in this. Provincial governments are not providing the local government with an opportunity to be active, otherwise the local government system can play its role in solving such problems.

Women face the most difficulties in getting justice. The example of Dr. Yasmin Rashid, a political leader of the Tehreek-e-Insaf, can be given, who despite being a senior citizen and a cancer patient, was not given the facilities she deserved. Only by giving women rights can we put Pakistan on the path of development.

Karachi Political Diary

 Karachi Political Diary 

Mubasher Mir

A freedom convention was held at the Karachi Press Club regarding the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), in which leaders of political parties besides the media spoke. They believed that the act was passed in a hurry. Although constitutional amendments have also been passed in Pakistan in a hurry, members of parliament are not provided with the opportunity for regular debate and discussion.

Even the 18th Amendment, which was passed in 2008, was not given the opportunity to the members of parliament to discuss its contents. The bill was passed in a single day. At that time, the PPP was the driving force behind this amendment, but now the PML-N is leading the way in the amendments that have been made.

Leaders of Tehreek-e-Insaf, PPP, Jamaat-e-Islami, MQM and GDA addressed the Azadi Convention. Senior PPP leader Raza Rabbani also expressed his views. Surprisingly, PPP and MQM are the parties that passed the bill, while the President belongs to PPP, so PPP and MQM leaders commented on PECA with cautious conversation. After the bill was passed by the parliament, it was being said that President Asif Ali Zardari would return the bill. But this did not happen and the President had signed the bill. In the current situation, the same style of politics is being played out that political parties are seen opposing and supporting the same issue in different ways, which even students of politics are surprised.

The Japanese Consulate in Karachi organized the birthday celebration of the Emperor of Japan, which was attended by the most important personalities of Karachi. While the Chief Minister of Sindh attended the event specially and discussed Pak-Japan relations. The history of economic relations between Pakistan and Japan has been wonderful. Japan has the largest share in the automobile industry in Pakistan. The Ministry of Industry of Pakistan should work with the automobile industry on the basis of how the prices of vehicles in Pakistan can be reduced, while the quality of vehicles has also deteriorated a lot. Recently, Suzuki Motors has increased the prices of its vehicles. Pakistan has not yet been able to reap much benefit from the Pak-Japan economic relations, which is being lost by the entire nation.

The Sindh government has invited South Korea to invest in the Dhabeji Economic Zone, which is welcome. South Korea's automobile industry is also excellent, and it should be utilized.

Dumper and heavy traffic continues to crush the citizens in the city of Karachi. It is surprising why the Sindh Ministry of Transport and the traffic police have not yet been able to identify the incompetent drivers. If the law enforcement agencies check the documents of heavy vehicles and assess the skills of their drivers, then incompetent drivers can be stopped from driving vehicles, but the government officials are still making rhetoric.

The Governor of Sindh has claimed that if he had the power, he would have solved the water and traffic problems, but after the 18th Amendment, the powers of the Governor have been reduced. It is surprising what kind of sympathy the Governor of Sindh wants to gain from the people by publicly expressing his weakness. Who has stopped him from discussing the problems of Sindh province with the President and the Prime Minister of Pakistan? At least he can inform the Prime Minister through his letters.

Looking at the roads, traffic, water shortage, gas load shedding and other problems in Karachi city that should be solved by municipal institutions, it seems that the city has been pushed back to the eighteenth century due to administrative incompetence. It has become impossible to provide clean water even in the posh areas of Karachi city. Karachi traders have also submitted complaints to Army Chief General Asim Munir several times. Everyone is aware of the problems but the journey of real change has not started yet. Karachi Municipal Corporation should be active to solve municipal problems but despite the claims of the Mayor of Karachi, results have not been forthcoming.

Recently, a news has come out in the media that scams have come to light in the distribution of solar panels in Sindh. It seems that corruption has also started in the scheme that was recently launched. Instead of paying attention to these issues, the leaders of the PPP and MQM are busy making statements against each other.

Some disappointing and dangerous reports have come from Balochistan. Especially at many places on the Quetta-Sibi highway, armed militant groups have been found stopping and checking vehicles. This should be a challenge for the security agencies that militant groups have become so powerful that they are challenging the state.

During Ramadan, reports are coming from all over the world about how facilities are being provided for the fasting people. But in Pakistan, the situation is going in reverse. There is a rush in the markets but people are forced to buy expensive things. Along with this, gas load shedding during Sehr and Iftar times has started to bother the people. Instead of creating facilities for the people during Ramadan, more profits are being made and they are also being bothered.