HYDERABAD: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) on Friday announced that a ‘Huqooq (rights) rally’ would be held here on Sunday to raise the civic issues of Hyderabad district.

MQM-P Hyderabad district organiser MPA Rashid Khilji made the announcement at a press conference in the local press club on Friday. Lawmakers Sabir Hussain Qaimkhani, Dilawar Qureshi and Waseem Hussain as well as Hyderabad Mayor Tayyab Hussain and others were also present.

He said the issues to be raised included acute shortage of water, dilapidated sewerage system, frequent electricity breakdowns, prolonged and unannounced power and gas load-shedding, inflated and ‘detection’ power bills, poor health facilities in government hospitals, deteriorating standard of education, encroachment of leased/registered properties, unemployment etc.

Mr Khilji said that a large number of activists and supporters of the MQM-P would take out a big rally from Hyderabad City Gate to Kohinoor Chowk on Sunday in protest against the provincial and federal governments, which ignored Hyderabad district completely.

He said that if the rulers did not resolve the civic issues, people would hold them accountable.

He reiterated that the MQM-P leadership would not ask rulers-cum-bureaucrats for finding solutions to civic problems as they (bureaucrats) were “slaves” of the rulers.

He regretted that the elected representatives of the Hyderabad Muni­ci­pal Corporation (HMC) were kept away from power. Despite having lesser powers, the elected representatives of the party were working hard to serve people while making full use of their capabilities and skills, he added. He warned that rulers, bureaucrats and district administration must mend their ways and play their role in resolving problems being faced by the residents of Hyderabad for a long time.

“People are sick and tired of complaining against the issues, but in vain,” he said, adding that the MQM-P always believed in serving people and providing solution at their doorsteps.

He said that if people and voters lost their patience and accountability started, such rulers and their rule would vanish. The rulers had gone into hibernation and were reluctant to pay attention to the issues of the people, he alleged.

Published in Dawn, May 20th, 2017