MQM-P’s Farooq Sattar for placing Karachi under Centre’s control
Warns of protest movement if party demands are not met; Clarifies he is not advocating for governor's rule in Sindh
Senior MQM-P leader Farooq Sattar said on Saturday that sense of deprivation among the residents of Karachi had crossed all limits, and demanded Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that the port city be handed over to the Centre and new administrative units be formed, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Addressing a press conference at Bahadurabad in Karachi, he urged the prime minister to visit the city before the situation got out of control. “Please prevent the situation from deteriorating further now. Don’t interfere at a later stage,” he added.
He demanded PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah to ensure implementation on the agreement signed on March 30, 2022 for the development and improvement of the city. “The commitments made under the deal are yet to be fulfilled,” he said, and added, “PM Shehbaz will have to intervene to get the agreement implemented.”
Farooq said that MQM-P had repeatedly reminded the provincial government about the agreement but no practical steps had been taken to fulfill the promises.
He said the party was not seeking more powers and privileges, but wanted implementation of the promises made to Karachi’s residents.
“And if the agreement is not implemented, the party will be left with no choice but to launch a protest movement,” the MQM-P leader warned.
He said if the people of Karachi came to the streets, they would be unstoppable.
The MQM-P leader claimed that people across the country were suffering due to corruption and mismanagement.
He said citizens had been deprived of their basic rights and essential public services.
Farooq said many of Karachi’s problems could have been resolved through an effective local government system.
He added that MQM-P had consistently opposed the quota system and argued that urban Sindh was not receiving its due share in jobs and opportunities.
He also alleged that jobs allocated under the quota system had been given to individuals possessing fake domicile certificates, depriving deserving candidates of employment opportunities.
He clarified that he was not demanding governor’s rule in Sindh but supported a referendum on Karachi’s future administrative status.
Also Read: Sharjeel Memon terms Farooq Sattar’s presser ‘political blackmailing’
Reporter: Shoaib Mukhtar