Karachi will not shut down, Manzoor Wassan vows
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KARACHI: Provincial Deputy General Secretary of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Manzoor Wassan on Thursday said no one would be allowed to forcefully shutdown Karachi on Dec 12.
Wassan's statement follows after Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon had said that the provincial government would not allow Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan to close down all of Karachi.
“If PTI workers try to shut down the city by force, government machinery will swing into action,” he had said.
On Dec 1, Karachi Traders Union President Atique Mir told Dawn that traders from the country’s commercial hub would not support Khan’s call for a shutdown on Dec 12. “Any such call will cost the national exchequer billions of rupees,” he said.
In light of the recent shutdown call announced by the PTI, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) extended an unconditional offer to the former for resumption of dialogue.
Read: Govt extends ‘unconditional’ dialogue offer to PTI
Reciprocating the government's offer, Khan said that he will call off his ‘Plan C’ if the government is ready to set up a judicial commission before the PTI’s call to shutdown Karachi on Dec 12.
On November 30, Khan had announced his 'Plan C' to paralyse the country's major cities and eventually “shut down” the entire country. Reiterating demands for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's resignation and a fair probe into alleged rigging of the 2013 elections, the cricketer-turned-politician appeared confident that his new push for street agitation would succeed.
Read: Imran's Plan C: Paralyse major cities, paralyse Pakistan
‘Ready to help Altaf’
Speaking to media representatives in Karachi, Wassan, who is also Sindh's anti-corruption minister, said that he is ready to assist Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain in the investigation of corruption cases against his workers.
A day before, Hussain had accused the party's central coordination committee and parliamentarians of making money by “selling playgrounds and streets, forgetting the party and workers”.
The MQM chief had assigned Qamar Mansoor and Arshad Hussain the task of overseeing party affairs in Karachi and London, respectively, and said that he would appoint a new coordination committee soon.
Read: Altaf sacks Rabita committee
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (47) Closed
Dec 11, 2014 02:20pm
I totally forgot about the shutdown thing. Didn't Imran had grand plans to shutdown other cities in early December before moving to Karachi? Whatever happened to Shutdown Faislabad, Lahore etc?
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Dec 11, 2014 02:24pm
When MQM used to issue notices for shut down everyone would come out to blame them and now PTI is doing the same lets see if its own supporters would condemn the action of its leader.
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Dec 11, 2014 02:28pm
So its okay if you do it, but not okay if someone else comes and threatens your constituency?
Regardless shutting down of cities should not be allowed to occur by any party in any city. It cause struggle and turmoil for the masses. No party has ownership of any city, even parties like PPP and MQM should be banned from their city and sometimes province wide shutdowns.
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Dec 11, 2014 03:04pm
Don't see why people are criticising Imran khan for paralyzing the economy. The current govt is already doing that with their policies against the industry due to high inflation, falling exchange rates and no relief for Industrialists.
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Dec 11, 2014 03:07pm
What this man has got anything to do with Karachi?
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Dec 11, 2014 03:16pm
@Burki You seem to be unaware about the date change for Lahore shut down. Faisalabad protest was duly held successfully as per schedule. Hope you now stand updated.
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Dec 11, 2014 03:17pm
People close shops because they are afraid of MQM. In case of PTI, probably people will not close shops.
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Dec 11, 2014 03:17pm
Karachi was already shut yesterday...
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Dec 11, 2014 03:19pm
@john Perhaps you don't know the difference between PTI and MQM. The latter is a well known group of gang sters and the former is committed to bring change in our country and end corruption.
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Dec 11, 2014 03:25pm
this is just unfair. forcuibly shutting down karachi. what is the difference between pti and mqm now. I had my daughter's school admission test which I may miss because of all this nonsense. Go Imran Go!
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Dec 11, 2014 03:34pm
Inshallah. Karachi will be shut down until govt will not be agree to form a judicial commission for election 2013 probe and dreams of Manzor Wassan will become nightmares.
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Dec 11, 2014 03:46pm
Where was he when the shutdown activities were active yesterday .
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Dec 11, 2014 03:49pm
Where was he when the shutdown activities were active last day .. You are blaming a party who has a solid plan , even they have introduced a map that what way people should not follow on 12th of December.
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Dec 11, 2014 03:56pm
Come imran we are with you
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Dec 11, 2014 03:56pm
Its not possible for IK to shut Karachi or entire Pak that is why he desperately wants "muzakraat" ...most probably he will cancel or postpone his call by tonight.
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Dec 11, 2014 04:01pm
Yes when MQM does any protests,nobody comes out physically to stop them.But For Imran Khan everywhere in Pakistan ,all parties including opposition,are trying to oppose him physically.What does this mean.
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Dec 11, 2014 04:07pm
Has he checked with Altaf Hussain?
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Dec 11, 2014 04:13pm
MQM should not offer PPP investigation rights to their corruption allegations. Courts and lawyers should. It gives your opponent a chance to shoot you in the foot.
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Dec 11, 2014 04:23pm
@Husain Jan Thanks for the update. I just vaguely remember his shutdown plans and don't follow in particular. But I didn't notice any big headline news past few days about any city coming to standstill so wasn't sure if he's still on the roll or not.
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Dec 11, 2014 04:23pm
@UFO you all there! Karachi is Pakistans part!
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Dec 11, 2014 04:24pm
Judicial commission will comprise of court judges and IK believed they are all corrupt. So where will it end. In fact the other day he called everyone who criticises him intellectually corrupt. So if he comes to power no one is allowed to have a different opinion? Sounds awfully like the current lot
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Dec 11, 2014 04:24pm
PTI does not have the street power in Karachi like the MQM does.
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Dec 11, 2014 04:46pm
It is very strange the PPP has stake and seats in interior sindh but they rule Karachi. Whats the stake of PPP to say about anything on Karachi? They have no representation what so ever. Karachi should have a government where educated and honest people runs it and they report directly to President of Pakistan. Everything is leading towards destroying the country. No one is sincere for Karachi.
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Dec 11, 2014 05:19pm
I don't think PPP has any stake in Karachi, forget it.
Karachi understands PPP government and am sure, they will give positive response on PTI call as they do on MQM.
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Dec 11, 2014 05:21pm
@Hassan It has never been Zardari league constituency, all must understand, yes, MQM has, NOT PPP.
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Dec 11, 2014 05:40pm
@Shahid respectfully, this kind of thinking has landed Pakistan into trouble. I am a Punjabi, but was extremely revolted by the slogan of one of the great "democrats" and "constitutional experts" shouting "Punjab for Punjabis". Either Pakistan is a country or a group of fiefdoms. You have seen PPP and PML-N's opinion on this already.
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Dec 11, 2014 05:42pm
Karachi will be shut down to save Pakistan and its people, it is a protest against corrupt and incompetent politicians who robbed and destroyed the country. It is time to rise and help Imran Khan to bring back justice, law and order and give people of Pakistan their rights and freedom back.
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Dec 11, 2014 05:46pm
Mr. Wassan Altaf Hussain ka naam to suna hoga ap ne??? lol
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Dec 11, 2014 06:02pm
There's every chance that mqm joins in for tomorrow claiming a separate reason unless pp coaxes them. the two parties are different but run by the same master.
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Dec 11, 2014 06:07pm
KArachi was shut yesterday..why didnt this person give any comments yesterday???
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Dec 11, 2014 06:07pm
I am surprised to know that the traders association is bothering on the loss of one day shut down, while the loss is already irreparable because of poor government policies and corruption in every sector. When i say that there is a corruption in every sector of Pakistan, believe me i feel like its the only thing i can guarantee ! Everyone of us has seen open corruption in every government department.
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Dec 11, 2014 06:46pm
@Muhammad Adnan Sadiq and the old corrupt who didn't get a ticket joined PTI instead, it's like saying an old model car with a new slab of paint is brand new, Imran was exposed by Javed has I for ruling like a dictator, and being coerced by sheikh Rasheed (who wants to burn everything down), if pretending and being ignorant is the PTI sheep reasoning they need to wake up and smell the coffee.
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Dec 11, 2014 06:53pm
Was this fellow ever able to utter a single word of opposition when MQM called for strikes, many times in Karachi, for many years? Even after all that, there was news awarding some 50 acres of public land for Altaf University?. Makes to thinks about standard of policy and politicians of today?
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Dec 11, 2014 07:16pm
B team is now trying to stop the Truth.
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Dec 11, 2014 07:25pm
@Hassan how will you then bring change? Or are you very happy with the current state of affairs?
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Dec 11, 2014 07:27pm
Mr Wassan, the party you represent is tainted with incompetence, corruption and wrong doings. How could people take you or your other ministers seriously?
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Dec 11, 2014 07:32pm
MQM should keep itself away & let PTI go ahead with plan C
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Dec 11, 2014 08:09pm
@Saad Can you give us the comparison of Inflation and exchange rates since present government took over and effect of dharnas and shut downs on economy and foreign investment please?
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Dec 11, 2014 08:40pm
Same way Faislabad was shut down? Peaceful protestors with sticks and stones
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Dec 11, 2014 08:54pm
Imran , Though I prefer you over the rest of the politician but asking to shut down Karachi and not the rest of the cities is unfair. Your shutdown call should be across the board.
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Dec 11, 2014 10:55pm
I would like the same boldness of Mr Wasan for MQM when they announce any a strike call. You need to support the reasonable call of PTI for election verification. Please be mature, PTI is a federation party which represent people from all corners of the country. If you support PTI, you may find space there in future. PPP is obsoleted and cornered to the rural Sindh.
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Dec 11, 2014 11:00pm
Karachi, let's show the power and shut down the city in favor of better Pakistan !
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Dec 12, 2014 12:01am
again and not surprisingly ppp response to PTI karachi-shutdown call was late and little, like their elder brother nawaz shareef who failed to stop faisalabad from shutting down the biz. try your bit ppp in karachi. tsunami has uprooted the pillar of govt from Faisalabad. lahore will be final frontier. Karachi will be like Girbraltar in Spain. karachi will go down to shutdown call by PTI.
its not PTI/IK's visionary leadership, its govt's lackluster performance in Karachi which is oozing people out.
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Dec 12, 2014 12:35am
No mandate for PTI from Karachi. IK Please keep trying in Punjab. Leave Karachi alone.
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Dec 12, 2014 12:49am
May I request that Mr. Manzoor Wassan's academic records and credential be published for public knowledge, he is drawing hefty salary, perks and other benefits from public funds, based on this he must justify his appointment obtaining votes through pre and after pools rigging must not be the only criteria for appointment on such important positions.
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Dec 12, 2014 05:55am
@UFO he is sind provincal minister and Karachi is capital of sind. You need to stop flying and come down.
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Dec 12, 2014 05:59am
@Shahid Karachi is Sind Capital l
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