KARACHI, Dec 27: The chief of Sindhi Association of Northern America, Aziz Narejo, has disputed the Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s claim that it is serving the people of Sindh without discrimination. He accused the party of allegedly being involved in grabbing lands, resources, employment and economic opportunities in Sindh.

In a message e-mailed to the Pakistani media, the SANA chief also alleged that the MQM was striving for the creation of new districts aimed at gaining political power in different areas, and was ceaselessly campaigning for migration to Sindh from India and Bangladesh to increase its vote bank, and the use of brute force and violence to annihilate other political forces from its areas of influence don’t conform with its claims.

He referred to recent media reports according to which the president has given a Rs50 billion Special Development Package over 5 years to the MQM-led City District Government Karachi.

He alleged the projects being financed from this money are mostly being undertaken in the former Central, East and North districts while Malir and South districts which have a high concentration of indigenous communities were being ignored.

“The ADB Karachi mega city project has a provision of $800 million, of which $150 million are for consulting and training programs while the rest is investment in infrastructure. Most of this too is planned to be spent in the 12 towns in which the MQM has its nazims. The remaining six towns has no scheme worth mentioning.

“Out of the 192 union councils of Karachi, some 40 have indigenous communities including Sindhi, Baloch and old residents. These are receiving only Rs. 10 million each in terms of development grants while the total budget of CDGK is Rs. 43 billion. Sindh Government is contributing over Rs. 25 billion to Karachi each year from its budgetary resources. All other districts in Sindh are getting only Rs. 1 to 2.2 billion each per annum. Karachi is certainly claiming a lion's share these days.”

He made it clear that the people of Sindh were not unhappy about the development work in their own Karachi – their own limb - the capital of their province, they only demand same attention to other parts in the province. They don’t understand or believe the MQM, as it says one thing but means and acts diametrically different, claimed Mr Narejo.