KARACHI: The Jamaat-i-Islami on Saturday staged sit-ins across the city as part of its campaign for civic and municipal rights of Karachi, fresh population census in the metropolis and an empowered local government system in the urban centre of Sindh.

Party workers, including women and children, at some places staged sit-ins and vowed to continue their struggle till the achievement of the desired results.

The party claimed that it had staged sit-ins at more than 50 points in the city to urge the government to initiate a fresh population census, set up an autonomous city government, annul the job quota system and hold LG polls forthwith.

The party holds protest sit-ins at 50 places across the metropolis

“The protest began at around 4pm and continued till late night,” said a JI spokesman in a statement. “All leaders from all districts and supporters took part in the sit-ins, which remained peaceful. Apart from the party workers, Karachiites turned up in high numbers at the sit-ins showing their trust in the JI’s manifesto and its struggle.”

The sit-ins were held in North Nazimabad, Liaquatabad, Jauhar Mor, Mauripur Road, Regal Chowk, Orangi Town, Saudabad, Landhi, etc.

Karachi JI chief Hafiz Naeemur Rahman addressed protesters at the Qayyumabad, Kalapul and Shahrah-i-Quaideen sit-ins.

Autonomous city govt demanded

He warned that the existing policies of the federal and provincial governments for the city would cause suffering to the masses and lead to a national disaster.

He also strongly condemned the cabinet decision to approve the controversial National Census 2017 under which the population of Karachi stood much lower than the factual one and demanded that the authorities review it.

“We strongly demand that the federal government order a fresh population census of Karachi, nullify the local government law in Sindh and set up an autonomous city government in the metropolis,” he said.

“Isn’t it an irony that a city that generates employment for the people of every district and town of the country is never owned by the rulers? Isn’t it a tragedy that this city that deserves to become the world’s centre is pleading for its due rights from its very own rulers?” he asked.

From dictator Ayub Khan to the present day this city had never been given its due rights and share, he said.

“But enough is enough. This city has always been deprived of its true leadership through rigging, violence and conspiracies. Now we are here to fight the case of this city,” he added.

Published in Dawn, January 31st, 2021