KARACHI: Amid ongoing talks with the Sindh government of the Pakistan Peoples Party, the Pak Sarzameen Party continued its sit-in on the second consecutive day on the main Fawara Chowk on Monday while sticking to its demand for an empowered local government system, effective municipal authorities and control of city administration over institutions ranging from health to education and building control to development authority.

Founder and chief of the party Syed Mustafa Kamal while addressing the participants in the sit-in, including women and children, made it clear that if no one else came forward for a protest against oppression and for rights of the city, the Sindh government would find him alone standing in its way.

However, he welcomed the gesture of the Sindh government of initiating talks, but called for a meaningful debate on the subject while rejecting any settlement on ‘give and take’ basis.

“We are not here for any vested or political interests, but for the rights of Karachiites, for our future generations and ensure that they get much better city and environment,” he added.

“We welcome the gesture of the Sindh government if it wakes up to our call and decides to hold talks but we are interested only in one-point agenda — empowered local bodies. So any talks or engagement for less than this will be wastage of time for both of us.”

Earlier Sindh Local Bodies Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah along with Karachi administrator barrister Murtaza Wahab visited the sit-in site in the early hours of the day and met PSP leaders. Although the discussion ended with no breakthrough, the government representatives vowed to continue the process.

Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2022