LARKANA: Holding out an olive branch to the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab called for inking a charter of Karachi like that of democracy signed between Benazir Bhutto and Mian Nawaz Sharif.

He was talking to journalists in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh, along with Karachi Deputy Mayor Salman Abdullah Murad and others on Thursday, where they came to pay homage to the PPP’s leadership — Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto and others.

When political leaders and intellectuals sat together for serious dialogues, definitely the result would be positive, he said, referring to the unanimously passed 1973’s Constitution. “Its positive impact we all are witnessing today,” he said.

He said the JI after losing the mayoral election was out for face saving, adding that he had already offered talks to the Jamaat and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) to burry differences, sit together and collectively address the problems of Karachi.

Advising the JI to restrain from protests and sit-ins, he said: “It’s better the JI visit us in offices or we will go to them with the sole object of resolving the issues of Karachi.” He said: “Sindh and Karachi are one and the same. I am the mayor of Karachi which is the capital of Sindh.”

He talked about the efforts and measures of the Sindh government taken to face certain law and order challenges in the kutcha areas of the province.

“We have come to serve with clear mind without any pressures and our mission is to serve Karachities and win over their hearts with our efforts,” he said.

He said the pace of development had started in the shape of Kakri Sports Complex in Lyari and it would be replicated in the districts Keamari, Central, West, Malir, East and South in future.

Earlier, Barrister Wahab, Deputy Mayor Abdullah Murad, parliamentary leader Najmi Alam and others laid wreaths on the graves of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Begum Nusrat Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto, Shahnawaz Bhutto, Mir Murtaza Bhutto and other martyrs and offered fateha.

The workers gathered on the occasion raised slogans ‘Jeay Bhutto Sada Jeay’.

Published in Dawn, June 23rd, 2023