Daily Times

KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Pakistan released a white paper on Wednesday about the performance of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government in Sindh.

Addressing a press conference, Dr Farooq Sattar, leader of MQM Pakistan, strongly criticised the prevailing quota system in the province. “The feudal system continues to exploit marginalised people. This system was introduced more than 40 years ago and at that time it was aimed at bringing at par the rural population with their urban counterparts,” he said.

The MQM leader said that the Sindh government had failed to share federal funds with local governments in urban centres of the province. According to the whitepaper, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation is facing a loss of Rs 1 billion. “Karachi has not been given even five percent of the total budget given to the provincial government. Even the share from the income of the service tax is not given to Karachi,” it stated.

“The transportation system, water, land and housing schemes projects must be handed over to the mayor of Karachi for the betterment of the city. The strength of the country lies in the strength of the local government system,” the document stated.

Sattar said that out of 25 million jobs, only 40,000 jobs had been given to people who belonged to urban areas.

“MQM, along with the small political groups of the rural areas, will contest the upcoming elections and defeat PPP,” he said.

He said that the 32 ministers facing corruption charges must be apprehended. “The Sindh chief minister must also be asked to present himself for accountability in corruption cases,” Sattar said.

Khuwaja Izharul Hassan, Waseem Akhtar, Sardar Ahmed, Salman Mujahid Baloch and Ameenul Haq wre also present on the occasion.

Responding to MQM’s claims, former Sindh chief minister Qaim Ali Shah said that the PPP would respond by releasing 10 white papers against MQM.