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Express Tribune
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Sharjeel urges Nawaz, Shehbaz to rein in PML-N ministers over canal row
Listen to article Sindh's senior minister Sharjeel Inam Memon on Tuesday called on Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to restrain their ministers from issuing 'provocative statements,' warning that escalating tensions over disputed canal projects could destabilise interprovincial relations. Speaking at a joint press conference in Karachi alongside senior Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leaders Nasir Hussain Shah and Aijaz Damrah, Sharjeel Memon expressed concern over what he described as irresponsible remarks by some PML-N ministers. 'If this approach continues, we may not be able to stop our own spokespersons from responding in kind,' the minister cautioned. He reiterated PPP's firm and longstanding opposition to the construction of controversial canal projects, arguing they undermine Sindh's water rights. Sharjeel Memon said the party holds documented evidence of Sindh's consistent opposition since the project's approval by federal water regulators during the caretaker government. 'We have official records proving that the Sindh chief minister objected at every stage,' he asserted. According to Sharjeel, Sindh's representatives voiced dissent when the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) issued no-objection certificates during the caretaker setup, allowing the controversial projects to move ahead. 'Even back then, we made our position clear,' he said. He revealed that Federal Minister Rana Sanaullah had contacted him twice in recent days, and that Shehbaz Sharif had expressed interest in finding a resolution. 'The prime minister is the leader of the whole country, not just one province. He should address these valid concerns and remove the reservations of the people,' the minister added. While defending the right to peaceful protest, the minister urged demonstrators to avoid blocking roads and disrupting economic activities. 'Livestock trucks and export consignments are stuck. Protesting is a constitutional right, but public inconvenience must be avoided,' he said. The minister also drew attention to the broader water-sharing issue, claiming that Sindh has not received its fair share of water under the 1991 Water Accord. He demanded the federal government fulfil its legal and constitutional obligations to ensure equitable distribution. Sharjeel criticised some PML-N ministers for adopting a confrontational tone, labelling them as 'non-political' elements creating unnecessary tensions. 'Sensible political leaders defuse situations — they don't inflame them,' he said. He concluded by welcoming Sanaullah's recent outreach but warned that continued provocation would leave PPP with no choice but to respond through its own political channels. The growing row comes amid wider tensions between the PPP-led Sindh government and the PML-N-dominated federal administration over resource-sharing, governance, and provincial rights.
Express Tribune
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
A city long yearning for peace
Listen to article On April 15, 1985, a 20-year-old college student Bushra Zaidi was killed by a speeding minibus in Nazimabad neighbourhood of Karachi. Her sister was also injured in the road accident, as well as a few other students. Burhra Zaidi's killing triggered widespread protests by students against rash driving, followed by violence in many parts of the city. Instead of tactfully dealing with protesters, the police used excessive force only to augment the violence — which was soon given an ethnic colour. Since then, Karachi has been in the grip of periodic outbreak of violence. More recently, killings by heavy vehicles, like dumper trucks and water tankers, threaten to ignite ethnic violence in the city. At a press conference in Islamabad on April 8, MQM-P leaders warned that the people of Karachi would not tolerate killings on the roads of Karachi and accused the PPP-led Sindh government of neglecting real issues facing the 30 million-strong mega city. The MQM-P leaders said that more than 90% of cops and bureaucrats in Karachi are non-locals which is the root cause of the various crises facing the city. They also questioned the recent appointment of the Sindh police chief, claiming that the development was followed by a surge in criminal activities across the province. The MQM-P leaders lamented that Karachi, despite accounting for 60% of the federal and 90% of the provincial revenue, gets the step-motherly treatment. Meanwhile, Afaq Ahmed, the Chairman of Mohajir Quami Movement, also bitterly criticised the killing of Karachiites by heavy vehicles; acute water shortage in Karachi; and the free rein that the criminals are enjoying in the metropolis. He warned the Sindh government of serious consequences if immediate steps were not taken to save the people of Karachi from mafias "being patronised by the PPP". Forty years have passed since the tragic accident that resulted in the death of Bushra Zaidi. The situation of Karachi has gone from bad to worse during this period. In 1985, the issue of over-speeding by minibuses owned and run by non-locals destabilised peace of Karachi. Now other serious matters — water crisis, land mafia and street crime — have cropped up, compounding the city's predicament. Four decades ago, the Urdu-speaking population constituted more than 50% of Karachi's total population, but it has lost its majority in the city now. At that time, police and city administration had a sizeable representation of locals, but now — as alleged by both MQM-P leaders and Afaq Ahmed, 90% of police and administration officials in Karachi are non-local, belonging to rural Sindh. It is another story that the MQM fully exploited the killing of Bushra Zaidi to propagate the slogan of Mohajir nationalism. Based on that, the party that was launched in 1984 won the municipal elections of 1987 as well as the National and Provincial Assembly elections from Karachi and Hyderabad in 1988. However, it failed to resolve the very many issues facing the urban population of Sindh. The MQM, which converted into Muttahida Qaumi Movement from Mohajir Qaumi Movement in early 1990s, remained part of almost all federal and provincial governments. The party is accused of letting its voters down by compromising on principles for the sake of power and privilege. Now after 40 years, the Urdu-speaking population of urban Sindh, particularly those from Karachi and Hyderabad, feel that they have betrayed by their leaders. If the citizens of Karachi have had to pay around 25 billion rupees every year to buy water and their lives are at risk because of the rash driving by dumpers, tankers and mini-buses, it means that those who have been getting their votes since 1987 were mainly interested in using the power of the vote for maximising their own wealth. If Karachi and Hyderabad are controlled by non-locals, it means that the MQM compromised on its election manifesto and left people of the two cities in the lurch. Forty years down the line, it is time to analyse what went wrong with the leadership of the Urdu-speaking population of Sindh and why it has failed to meet the aspirations of its voters. One can examine the dynamics of four decades of violence in Karachi from three angles. First, since April 15, 1985, there has been no respite in Karachi and Hyderabad from ethnic violence which was first directed against the Pashtuns, then Punjabis and finally Sindhis. It is alleged that the violence in the wake of Bushra Zaidi's killing was used by the dictatorial regime which patronised MQM against PPP. The MQM got a heavy mandate from Karachi and Hyderabad in the 1988 general elections. It was an ideal opportunity for the party to focus on issues that plagued the two cities. At the April 8 presser by MQM-P leaders, Mustafa Kamal claimed that during his tenure as Mayor, he had changed the face of Karachi. But the question is why the party has failed to take a firm stand against the dumper mafia, water mafia, land mafia and street criminal. The only way the MQM-P can reclaim its popular support is by reverting to the grassroots politics. It is also alleged — not only by MQM, but also by JI, PTI and GDA — that it is the ruling PPP that has destroyed both urban and rural districts of Sindh through bad governance. Lack of ownership for Karachi and Hyderabad on the part of PPP and running the two cities through non-local police and administrative officials further aggravated the issues. When Karachiites, who contribute bulk of federal and provincial revenues, will be left at the mercy of the mafias, the outcome will be nothing else than violence. Second, lives lost on the roads to over-speeding means the absence of rule of law as well as poor governance. When the K-4 water supply scheme continues to remain in limbo for 20 years, it will aggravate the water crisis in Karachi and likely result in water riots. When corruption and nepotism are allowed to destroy the very foundations of the city, it means the destruction of Pakistan's revenue engine. Third, the provincial and federal governments must own Karachi and take steps to ensure rule of law and better governance, and to eliminate mafias. But that is only possible when those who wield power eradicate corruption and nepotism. With the country already facing serious challenges in Balochistan and KP, it cannot afford to see Karachi destabilised.
Express Tribune
09-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Women's rally calls for protection of Sindh's rights
Women from all walks of life unite to raise their voices against injustice and fight for their rights. PHOTO: JALAL QURESHI/EXPRESS Working-class women held a rally to raise their voices against anti-people policies and for the protection of Sindh's rights. The rally, which began at the Youth Auditorium and ended at the Arts Council of Pakistan, drew large numbers of women, men, farmers and members of the transgender community from various regions. The rally was led by Zehra Khan, General Secretary of the Home-Based Women Workers Federation, who chanted slogans against anti-Sindh water projects, land grabbing, and food crises. Speaking on the occasion, Zahra Khan said that Sindh's civilisation is on the brink of destruction due to government policies, mentioning that issues such as climate change, floods, water resource exploitation, and the destruction of the Indus Delta threaten the lives and lands of millions of people in Sindh. She further stated that these problems have forced millions of people in Sindh to migrate. The problem has also reduced crop yields, and triggered a food crisis. She appealed to progressive groups and forces in Punjab to raise their voices against their rulers in support of Sindh's rights and to stand together for Sindh's survival by resolving the issue of canals. A large number of peasant farmers also joined the rally and expressed their support for Sindh's rights and condemned the canal policy of Punjab rulers. Women empowerment govt's top priority Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has stressed that International Women's Day symbolises the ongoing struggle for equality, rights, and justice. In his message on the occasion, he paid tribute to the women of Sindh - mothers, sisters, and daughters - while reaffirming the provincial government's unwavering commitment to their empowerment across various sectors. The chief minister highlighted that societal progress is unattainable without active female participation. The CM reiterated that ensuring equal opportunities for women in education and healthcare remains a top priority for the PPP-led government. He acknowledged the pivotal role Pakistani women have played in national development and the democratic movement, recognising the historic contributions of Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah, Begum Nusrat Bhutto, and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto as enduring symbols of resilience and leadership. Projects especially for women Sindh Senior Minister, Sharjeel Inam Memon, has said that women deserve all praise for playing a vital role in the development, stability, and prosperity of the country. Under the historic policy of distributing land to landless farmers, women farmers are also being given land to become economically independent, the senior minister said. He further mentioned that the Pink Bus Service has been launched to allow women to continue with their daily activities without any fear. Moreover, providing free EV scooters to deserving and hardworking women is also part of PPP government's historic programme.
Express Tribune
09-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
'Over-the-top hype' a drain on public coffers
As the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) basks in its self-congratulatory praise over Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz's governance, its key ally, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), remains unimpressed. The party believes that despite the relentless media blitz, Maryam's initiatives lack vision and have yet to win hearts or ballots in Punjab. Speaking to The Express Tribune, PPP spokesperson Shazia Marri denounced the extravagant media coverage of Maryam's governance, pointing out that genuine service delivery spoke for itself and required minimal publicity - something evident in Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah's performance in the PPP-led province. While maintaining that moderate media outreach was par for the course for any government – whether at the Centre or in Punjab - the Maryam-led province's over-the-top projection was an unjustifiable drain on public funds. The PPP leader further noted that despite the intense media campaigning, Maryam Nawaz's government was failing to gain traction with the people. Even PML-N was aware of this, which is why it has intensified its paid media campaigns, she added. Marri accused PML-N of testing the PPP's patience by treating it like an opposition party rather than a key ally in the ruling coalition, warning that if this cold attitude persisted, the PPP would make its move at the right time. She clarified that PPP had never sought ministries from PML-N but had only requested political space - something the latter had been unwilling to provide despite forming a government with PPP's support. She alleged that despite forming its government with PPP's support, PML-N had been so discourteous that it failed to address any of its concerns. Taking another jab at the ruling party, she said if PML-N thinks funnelling all public welfare projects through its own ranks will win over the electorate, it was sorely mistaken. She noted that voters rally behind political ideologies, adding that this is where PML-N falls short. When asked about calls from within Punjab for Aseefa Bhutto to lead the party in the province, she described the young Bhutto scion as a valuable asset already making invaluable contributions to the party. However, she clarified that the top leadership would decide to formally launch Aseefa in Punjab. She added that the party was fortunate to have young leaders who could effectively connect with the country's youth. It is worth mentioning that some PPP leaders in Punjab believe that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has failed to revive the party's fortunes in the province, where it is rapidly losing ground. They are calling for Aseefa's entry into Punjab's political landscape.
Express Tribune
21-02-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Nationalists, intellectuals reject six water canals
The court has observed that people living downstream on both sides of Indus River are dying because of toxic effluent and waste in Manchar Lake. PHOTO: APP The six water canals being constructed on the Indus River will not only destroy Sindh's agriculture but will also parch urban areas, including Karachi. In the Sindh Unity Conference organized by Jeay Sindh Mahaz (JSM) at the Karachi Press Club on Thursday, the speakers demanded the government to allow Sindh's rightful share of the water. "It is not only for our agriculture but we won't have water to drink," JSM's Riaz Chandio said. "People in urban areas believe that construction of six canals on the river is a purely issue related to the rural areas," he explained. But, he added, people living Sindh's urban areas especially in Hyderabad and Karachi will face the consequences more than those who live in far flung areas. He appealed Karachiites to take collective action against the project. Rejection the six canals he strongly demanded the government that Sindh must receive its due share of water as per the 1991 Water Accord. The participants urged the United Nations to recognize the Indus River as a living entity, similar to the Magpie River in Canada and other protected rivers worldwide. In the resolution passed by the conference' participants, they condemned the retaliatory actions of the PPP-led government and demanded the immediate release of Ghulam Murtaza Jatoi. The conference was attended by Dr Safdar Abbasi, Sardar Abdul Rahim, Husnain Mirza, Noor-ul-Huda Shah, Dr Kaiser Bengali, Syed Khuda Dino Shah, Manzoor Mirani, Shahab Osto, Dr Ali Hassan Bhutto, Aamir Fayaz Warraich, Naeem Qureshi Advocate and others. The conference also held responsible the provincial and federal governments for rising road accidents. They also condemned the recent accidents in the city, demanding a crackdown on the dumper mafia. The participants also discussed the prevailing law and order situation in Sukkur and Larkana divisions, affecting hundreds of people.
