KARACHI: Calling the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) “slaves of international establishment”, Jamaat-i-Islami emir Sirajul Haq on Thursday asked the people of Karachi to ‘bury their politics of corruption and nepotism’ in the February 8 elections, pointing out that the city had suffered the most due to incompetence and dishonesty of these parties.

Addressing a JI convention, the party chief in his maiden address in the party’s election campaign in Karachi directly named the leaders of the two parties and their ally Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan for deliberately ignoring Karachi and pursuing politics of hatred and divide. However, he refrained from attacking the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and its founder that ruled the country between 2018 and 2022.

He called PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari a ‘prince’ who believed himself to be a perfect candidate for the premiership just because of his family connections. This, he said, was only merit the former foreign minister carried for his election campaign.

“A prince says he is the right choice to become the prime minister because his grandfather [Zulfikar Ali Bhutto] and his mother [Benazir Bhutto] were prime ministers and his father [Asif Ali Zardari] was the president of the country,” he said.

“He promises to forgive every opponent if he comes to power. But let me tell you Bilawal Sahib, the people of Karachi and Pakistan would not forgive you and your party for the corruption and plunder you have done over the last 15 years,” added the JI emir.

He asked the people of Karachi to ‘avenge’ all injustices and exploitation committed against their city through ballot papers on February 8 and by voting against the politics of ‘family enterprises and corruption.’

“Let’s burry their politics and restore the lost glory of Karachi and give the people of the city a new hope. Reject all those who have snatched your rights and dreams during last 15 years,” added Mr Haq.

Earlier, the JI Karachi chief Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman shared JI’s ambitious programme that included rectification of anomalies in the population count of Karachi, empowerment of youth and women as well as best transport and health facilities under the party’s manifesto.

“We would implement our party’s manifesto, specifically of Karachi, if voted to power in the Feb 8 general elections,” he said, and added that “Karachi will be made a safe city and we would equip the police with latest technology and increase salaries of policemen. Let it be very clear that fresh recruitment in the Karachi police would be made only on the basis of merit.”

He promised to revive the Karachi Circular Railway and convert the bus rapid transit lines into a light train project. He also vowed to launch a women empowerment programme under which a dedicated transport for women, entrepreneurship opportunities for housewives and neighbourhood committees dedicated for women issues would be established.

Published in Dawn, January 26th, 2024