KARACHI, Dec 13: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s manifesto, unveiled on Thursday, stresses among other things unity of command in respect of all municipal services and revenue collection at city/district level. It calls for a single administrative agency to be made the controlling authority.
For urban development, it proposes de-linking of vehicular traffic management in metropolitan cities from police, stating that the traffic administration should be placed under the control and management of the city district government concerned.
The manifesto pledges security to the life and property of all citizens and elimination of crime dens for which it prefers community policing system headed by an elected police commissioner to undertake the responsibility.
It observes that migration from rural areas to urban centres is a universal phenomenon and, therefore, it is imperative to carry out development of infrastructure and promote industrialisation in all parts of the country to discourage massive influx into urban areas.
The party also promises introduction of large-sized environment-friendly buses in all districts and rapid mass transit in private sector dovetail with the overall city district transport system with a regulatory board to be headed by the district nazim concerned. It advocates bring police department under the control of city district governments.
To alleviate poverty, the MQM manifesto suggests that the gap between inflation and pay-raise be narrowed down. The party believes that the raise in public sector must commensurate with the rate of inflation. It also proposes a strict control of food inflation by stabilising or subsidising the prices of essential commodities, especially wheat, rice, sugar and oil. The burden of taxes on low-income group and the downtrodden will be minimised, it pledges, adding that taxes on utility bills will be curtailed.
The manifesto also promises introduction of effective land reforms, district-level micro finance credit on the pattern of the Grameen Bank, land grant to landless farmers, cooperative farming, cooperative marketing, etc.
The MQM plans to negotiate with multinational pharmaceutical companies on bringing down prices of medicines. It says import tax on medicines will be abolished and there will be no Customs duty on the import of medical equipment. Sale and purchase organs for transplantation will be stopped and only cadaver banks, to be established by the government, will be authorised to handle the job.
The MQM suggests an increased spending on education up to five per cent of the GDP over the next five years. A minimum of 20 per cent of the provincial and district government revenue will be allocated for education. The party also intends to amend the syllabi in accordance with the national requirement and modern age.
According to the manifesto, the party will claw back all the loans acquired and got written off by “big fish”, saying that the amounts would be spent on the betterment of people.
The MQM will strictly adhere to the principle of merit and transparency in recruitment and awarding of contracts. Secret funds placed at the disposal of prime minister or chief minister will be subject to independent audit and public scrutiny, it says.
The MQM manifesto stresses on fundamental rights stating that the state must take steps to check police excesses, illegal confinement and harassment of citizens.
It pledges freedom of expression and freedom of the press, declaring that the party will in no circumstances curb freedom of the press or deprive public if this valuable service. The media regulatory authorities will be completely independent and governed by sensible rules and fair regulations, it says.
The manifesto states that the judiciary must be independent, impartial and autonomous to dispense justice to every citizen and establish rule of law. The party will address problems like non-trial or inordinate delays in dispensing justice and congestion in prisons.
