KARACHI: All-parties moot backs ST’s strike call for 27th
By Our Reporter
KARACHI, May 14: The opposition political parties on Sunday castigated the government for demolishing old goths, water crisis, soaring prices, mounting unemployment, appalling law and order situation and failure in apprehending culprits of Nishtar Park tragedy, increasing violence in educational institutions and suppression of rights of people.
Participating in the All-Parties Conference, chaired by Syed Qaim Ali Shah and organised by the Pakistan Peoples Party Sindh chapter, the major components of Alliance for Restoration of Democracy and Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal as well as other opposition parties also supported the May 27 strike call given by Sunni Tehrik in protest against government’s failure to apprehend the culprits of Nishtar Park tragedy. They also deplored police action and state terrorism against workers of Dadu sugar mills.
Some leaders even suggested that people should not pay tax to the government when their life and property were unsafe and utilities failed to provide them efficient service.
It was also suggested that political parties should take steps for mobilising people for the restoration of true democracy by dislodging the military-led dispensation.
The APC was addressed by Qaim Ali Shah, Nisar Khuhro, Nafees Siddiqui, Prof Ghafoor Ahmad, Allama Hassan Turabi, Mamoon Hussain, Dr Qadir Magsi, Salim Zia, Basharat Mirza, Mahmoodul Hassan, Mufti Hazarvi, Shahid Ghori, Zain Ansari, Shahi Syed, Khan Amanullah Khan and others.
They accused the provincial government of deliberately destroying peace in the province and alleged that for the realisation of specific vested interest, it had demolished old villages in the province, particularly in Karachi. They alleged that the provincial coalition government and the city government were in league with land mafia.
They criticised the regime for water crisis that had destroyed agriculture in the province and privitisation policy that had left people without electricity and water. They alleged that the government had put the country on sale, patronised hoarders and exploiters, unemployment and price hike.
The APC was of the view that due to iniquitous Financial Award, mistrust between centre and the provinces had developed and elected parliament had been made subservient to the whims of one man. In these circumstances, they said that the claim of good governance and economic development was a big joke with the nation.
It was demanded that a neutral caretaker government should be set up in consultation with all the political parties to overcome the present crisis and elections should be held under an independent election commission. It also demanded that exiled leaders of political parties must be allowed to return home unconditionally and false cases against them should be withdrawn.
The opposition leaders alleged that the Sindh government and the City District Government of Karachi were demolishing old settlements under a conspiracy to the advantage of land mafia. In this context, it also criticised the police action against the inhabitants and barbaric action against them in the process of demolition. They pointed out that two residents of Sikandar Goth were killed in police firing. They demanded action against those who were responsible for such anti-people action.
The participants of the conference also expressed concern over the water situation in Sindh, particularly in Karachi, where the problem had been compounded by the constant power outages. They also demanded resignation of Federal Power Minister Liaquat Jatoi for telling lies about power outages.
Criticising the privatisation policy of significant national assets like Pakistan Steel, KESC, and PTCL by making hundreds of people unemployed, they questioned the wisdom of selling off such profit-making industrial units and utilities.
The student wing of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement was criticised for destroying peace in educational institutions. The leaders also mentioned the killing of an IJT supporter, studying in commerce college, and demanded immediate arrest of culprits.
The APC expressed concern over Balochistan and Waziristan operations which had endangered life of the people. They demanded an end to these anti-people operations. They emphasised that all these problems had emerged due to lack of democracy.
A joint declaration, issued at the end of the All-Parties Conference, held the regime’s policies responsible for political and economic deprivation of the people. The conference observed that the poor was becoming poorer and the number of people committing suicide was increasing while religious and other leaders were being eliminated under a well thought-out plan of target killings.
KARACHI, May 14: The opposition political parties on Sunday castigated the government for demolishing old goths, water crisis, soaring prices, mounting unemployment, appalling law and order situation and failure in apprehending culprits of Nishtar Park tragedy, increasing violence in educational institutions and suppression of rights of people.
