KARACHI: Jamia Binoria Aalimiyah chief Mufti Naeem has said that if the Urdu-speaking community wants their problems to be solved, they should forget their political differences and unite, become patriot citizens and love the country.

Mufti Naeem was speaking to Pak Sarzameen Party chief Mustafa Kamal who led a delegation to meet him on Sunday.

The PSP chief extended an invitation to him to join his ‘Million March’ that the party would hold on May 14 to put pressure on the government for resolution of pressing civic problems of Karachi.

Responding to the PSP invitation, Mufti Naeem said that Mr Kamal also served earlier the people of Karachi. He staged a sit-in outside the Karachi Press Club and highlighted the problems of the people of Karachi, he said. “I fully support their million march and ask all Ulema to fully support them,” Mufti Naeem added.

“If Urdu-speaking people want to get their problems resolved, they ought to forget their political difference and unite, become patriot citizens, love the country and don’t include those in their ranks who are against the country and the armed forces of Pakistan.

“The city of Karachi was pushed towards war of sectarianism and ethnicity, but Mustafa Kamal and Anees Qaimkhani played a role to overcome hatred among citizens of Karachi and brought brothers closer to each other and now they have started a struggle for resolution of problems of Karachi and we support him and his party in this regard.”

“If Pakistani armed forces did not offer sacrifices, there could be no peace in the country and one who is against the armed forces, is not sincere with the country,” he said.

Later, PSP chief Mustafa Kamal told the media that the meeting was part of their campaign to extend invitations to Ulema, lawyers, traders and civil society members to muster support for their 16 demands formulated to solve problems of Karachi.

Mr Kamal, who was accompanied by PSP leaders Anis Qaimkhani, Waseem Aftab and others, claimed the ruling party that used to claim having a mandate of the city bargained over the mandate for personal benefits.

He said out of 16 demands, eight demands pertained to the city mayor who belonged to that party which had been opposing the PSP. Yet the PSP would back all those who were raising their voice for the rights of Karachi, he said.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2017