Daily Times

The establishment of new provinces on administrative grounds is among the top priorities of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), according to the party’s manifesto announced on Saturday.

The manifesto mentions the examples of India and Turkey as countries that have done well by increasing the number of administrative units.

The party seeks to make Sindh’s capital Karachi a separate province. The manifesto proposes abolition of Karachi’s six districts and concentration of municipal powers into an autonomous Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, headed by an elected leader.

The manifesto seeks formation of a commission to solve cases of enforced disappearances. As part of agricultural reforms, the party proposes land reforms to end ‘medieval feudalism’.

The manifesto also seeks to end the ban on dual nationals contesting elections. The party says it is surprising that people on sensitive posts like governors, bureaucrats and judges are allowed to be dual nationals, while Pakistanis residing in other countries are not allowed to contest the polls.

The party has also highlighted the need for population planning and enhanced expenditure on public health and education. It also states that a fair and transparent census would be held in Sindh.

Speaking at the ceremony where the manifesto was unveiled, MQM-P convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said that democracy could not flourish in a feudalistic society.

He said the country needed a democratic system where a laborer could represent the working class in the corridors of power. “The nation will then progress on a democratic path,” he said, adding, “It was imperative to develop a plan against extremism and terrorism.”

“We need a democracy where there is equal right to representation,” he said.

He said the MQM-P had always raised voice of democracy and that it had sent the middle-class youth to the legislatures. “Democracy should reach to the level of streets and neighborhoods. It is very important that authority gets trickled down,” he said, “A crippled local bodies system was given to Sindh. Our country needs good governance. MQM supports increasing administrative units in the country,” he said.

Further, Siddiqui said that devolution of powers was a constitutional requirement under Article 140. He said long-term reforms were needed for the improvement of the police forces. About the existing democratic system, he said it was based on dynastic and dictatorial politics, that needed to fixed.

Dr Farooq Sattar, Aamir Khan, Nasreen Jalil and Faisal Sabzwari were also present on the occasion.

Published in Daily Times, July 15^th 2018.