KARACHI, Oct 27: Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, Sindh, has put forward four-point target to the parties seeking its cooperation to form a coalition in the province.

The MMA’s Sindh chief, Maulana Asadullah Bhutto, told Dawn on Sunday that the four points for cooperation are:

1) elimination of terrorism and restoration of law and order

2) employment for the youth

3) a review of educational syllabus to ensure Islamic identity,

4) proprietary rights and facilities for the inhabitants of backward areas.

Maulana Bhutto said that the MMA’s provincial leadership was in touch with all the groups in Sindh Assembly with a view to ensure good governance fully capable to eliminate terrorism and restore law and order in the province.

He mentioned that initial talks were held with the leaders of Pakistan Muslim League-Q and Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians. Another round with PML-Q, he added, is scheduled for Monday after which there would be further negotiations with the PPP. He said that the MMA expected PPP to agree on a mutually acceptable formula for cooperation in a meeting to be held soon.

He, however, denied any contact between the alliance and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement with regard to the formation of a coalition government.

About the parameters of talks, Maulana Bhutto said that the alliance has declared its priority targets in accordance with its manifesto.

Justifying the points, he said that terrorism and law and order in Sindh have not only remained a major cause of concern for every citizen but also proved to be a big hurdle in the way of the province’s progress. Entrepreneurs and investors, he added, stayed away from the province due to the law and order situation.

Turning to the second point, Maulana Bhutto said that countless educated youths in Sindh are jobless and it is quite essential for any future government to solve the problem on priority basis in order to enable this major segment of the society contribute its potential and bring prosperity to the province.

Explaining the third point, he said that the syllabus of Sindh’s educational institutions must reflect to our religion as the province is recognized as ‘Bab-ul-Islam’ and the land of Sufia, Durwaish and Aulia. He said the provincial government would have to transform the syllabus in accordance with the holy Quran and Sunnah.

Providing basic civic amenities to the inhabitants of the backward areas, the Maulana said of the fourth point, is aimed at the welfare of the poor living in the neglected rural areas, like Thar. These people, he said, have been suffering for long and the government should redress their numerous problems by granting them proprietary rights of the land they deserve to own. Residents of Kachchi Abadis, Goths and villages should also get the same benefits, he added.

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