JI demands fair share for Karachi in provincial budget
The rally, which began from Khizra Masjid and ended at the Sindh Assembly building, saw participation from people across the city. Protesters carried banners and chanted slogans criticizing the Sindh government and its allies for ignoring Karachi's basic needs.
Addressing the crowd, JI Karachi Chief Munem Zafar Khan accused the ruling PPP and MQM of presenting an 'anti-Karachi' budget and sidelining the city in development planning. He said Karachi suffers from a worsening water crisis, crumbling infrastructure, lack of public transport, and power outages.
'Karachi contributes the most to the national and provincial economy but gets nothing in return,' Munem Zafar said, demanding at least Rs500 billion to address the city's pressing issues. He stressed the need for 10,000 buses and the revival of the Karachi Circular Railway to ease public transport problems.
He criticized the under funding of the K-4 water project, saying only Rs3.2 billion was allocated against a Wapda requirement of Rs40 billion. 'Karachi paid Rs3,000 billion in taxes, but the government can't spare Rs40 billion for water?' he questioned.
Munem Zafar also condemned what he called 'rigged' elections and political manipulation in the mayoral race, blaming both PPP and MQM as 'products of Form 47' — a reference to election results he claimed was tampered with.
Highlighting stalled infrastructure projects, he pointed to delays and rising costs in the Red Line BRT and KDA underpass schemes, saying they had caused both human and financial losses.
He also slammed recent traffic and transport policies, including the ban on four-seater rickshaws and higher penalties for motorbike riders, calling them 'illogical and unfair.'
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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According to its statement of objects, the current security outlook requires "a robust response that goes beyond the existing legal framework". The bill explains that previous powers under Section 11EEEE, which lapsed in 2016 due to a sunset clause, needed to be "re-inserted to empower the government, Armed Forces and Civil Armed Forces with the necessary authority to detain individuals who pose a significant threat to national security". The government contends the provision would allow for preventive detention based on credible information or reasonable suspicion, enabling authorities to disrupt terror plots before they mature. 'Urgency must not eclipse wisdom' Defending the legislation, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar told senators, "Currently, the country is facing the menace of terrorism and amendments proposed by Syed Naveed Qamar have already been incorporated to make it more effective." 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18 hours ago
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Rs40b fine on mills termed 'wrong'
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Senate passes Anti-Terrorism Bill amid opposition walkout
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