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Published 14 Aug, 2005 12:00am

LB election under army supervision demanded

HYDERABAD, Aug 13: Former Karachi city nazim Naimatullah Khan has demanded that Karachi and Hyderabad districts be declared sensitive and the local body elections be held under the supervision of the army.

Speaking at meet the press programme at the press club on Saturday, he said flag march by the army and security forces was not enough.

He said eleven people were killed in Karachi during a by-election when polls were held under the supervision of police and Rangers.

He said if elections could not be held under the direct supervision of army then it should be sent back to barracks.

He said within a period of four years, he had transformed Karachi into city of lights and peace.

He said Karachi was the most important city of the country and a hub of industrial and economic activities.

He said the city was home to 50 per cent of the entire industries of Pakistan and it produced 67 per cent of the total revenue of the country.

He said that the population growth rate of Karachi was 5.4 per cent which was double than the growth rate of the country but unfortunately nobody had done anything to improve its infrastructure including those who had remained in power for 15 years.

He said the people of all communities had lived in peace and harmony in Hyderabad and Karachi and recalled that when he had reached Hyderabad after partition, he was garlanded by Sindhis and extended all brotherly relations and hospitality.

He said one particular group during its 15 year-rule had destroyed peaceful atmosphere and harmonious relations between various communities.

He said Altaf Hussain at one time was the uncrowned king of the Urdu-speaking people but due to ethnic riots he had isolated the community.

He demanded that the government should investigate into origin and agenda of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement as it had emerged on the scene suddenly from nowhere.

He said the investigation was extremely necessary as this affliction was likely to affect other provinces also.

The former Karachi nazim claimed that he was fighting battle of the entire Pakistan and therefore the entire country should support him.

He said the Muttahida Qaumi Movement was fully aware of its fate in the local body elections in 2001 and therefore it boycotted the elections.

He said that its fate would not be different in the ensuing elections.

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