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.