- The PTI triumph signifies a number of things
Prime Minister Imran Khan, while speaking at a fund-raising dinner in Karachi for the construction of dams, emphasised their importance for the country and also expressed the resolve to execute the proposed projects by all means. Conceptually speaking one can hardly take an issue with what he said. Pakistan is seventh on the list of ten most affected countries of the world by the climate change and the expected scarcity of water, which can have disastrous consequences for the country.
He also promised to come up with the first ever master plan for the port city and to revive the city of lights. The prime minister also committed to extend all possible help to the Sindh government for carrying out development projects besides ordering completion of K-IV and Green Line projects on priority basis. Karachi is the industrial hub of the country and contributes most of the revenue to the national exchequer. As prime minister, Imran Khan owes it to the people of Karachi to ensure a peaceful environment for them and nudging the process of development in the city, more so due to the reason that they have put their faith in the PTI to change the fate of the city as well as its dwellers by helping the party to win 14 NA seats out of 21 as well as 29 seats in the provincial assembly of Sindh, making it the largest opposition party.
The PTI triumph in Karachi signifies two things. The people of Karachi have finally come to realise the futility of ethnic politics pursued by MQM and its militancy that had destroyed the peace of the city. They have chosen to associate themselves with the vision and narrative preferred by Imran Khan. Who would have thought that it was possible to challenge MQM in Karachi which had remained unchallenged during the last 30 years? The advent of PTI in Karachi is a very positive development from the national and local perspective as well. It will help in restoring peace in the city by curbing the culture of divisive politics. The people will develop a national outlook that would eventually help the much needed process of national integration and unity.
Expressing satisfaction over the current situation the prime minister rightly paid tribute to the law enforcing agencies
Prime Minister Imran Khan also made a very important announcement regarding giving nationality to the Bangladeshi and Afghan refugees who are living in Karachi for decades. He linked street crimes in Karachi to rising underclass originally from Bangladesh and Afghanistan who do not get jobs, passports and Identity cards. It is an irrefutable reality that the refugees from Bangladesh who opted for Pakistan after Dacca Debacle showed their loyalty for Pakistan. But no previous government ever bothered to look at their plight and the consequences of that neglect. The Afghan refugees are also there for the last four decades. Their third generation has grown up in Pakistan and a great number of them have been living in Karachi. The numbers of both the communities dwelling in Karachi is in millions. There is no way they could be sent back forcibly. Their presence in Karachi is an irrefutable reality and there is no better solution to the problem than giving them Pakistani nationality and the identity that would make them useful citizens of Karachi.
It is a great humanitarian gesture by the prime minister. Countries around the world are known to have accorded nationalities to the refugees and people coming to their lands in distress on humanitarian grounds. The gesture would not only send positive signals to the outside world but would also go a long way in curbing street crimes in Karachi and the social inequalities which are their root-cause. Bringing these communities in the mainstream of the society would give them sense of belonging besides ensuring their positive contribution to the local as well as national economy. It will also have a very positive impact on the political landscape of Karachi and Sindh. Giving them nationality and identity cards and passports would also entitle them to vote in elections, which means that there would be considerable increase in the number of votes in different constituencies of Karachi.
However the announcement in this regard has not gone well with the PPP, the ruling party in Sindh which has out-rightly rejected it. The PPP probably fears that the addition of the new voters from these communities would further strengthen PTI in Karachi as they would prefer to vote for their benefactor. PPP is already wary of its defeat by PTI in Lyari, considered to be its stronghold in Karachi. The unfortunate reality is that the PPP’s militant wing has been involved in turf war with militant wings of MQM and ANP as per the findings of the Supreme Court. It had a tremendous role in the deterioration of law and order situation in Karachi along with MQM. In spite of being a ruling party in the province for the last ten years it paid no attention to addressing the simmering social problems and taking care of the neglected communities who were very much part of the social milieu of Karachi. Problems and issues need to be resolved timely instead of sweeping them under the carpet or refusing to accept their existence as they get magnified with every passing day. This is what exactly has happened in Karachi.
The city urgently needs to be resurrected and its peace and tranquility restored to revive the economic activities to their full potential, which is vitally needed in view of the perilous economic situation of the country. It is therefore incumbent upon all the stakeholders in the future of the country as well Karachi to support initiatives that can help to tackle the problems facing the metropolitan city. Politicking can wait for better times.
Prime Minister Imran Khan also presided over a high level meeting on law and order situation and was told that the percentage of serious crimes had come down by 90pc. Expressing satisfaction over the current situation the prime minister rightly paid tribute to the law enforcing agencies which had rendered sacrifices to restore normalcy in the city. Karachi surely is fast returning to normalcy and no amount of appreciation would be enough to express gratitude to the law enforcing agencies for their unruffled commitment in dealing with the precarious law and order situation in the city and the sacrifices rendered by them. The job however is not finished yet. The remaining 10pc crimes also have to be eliminated. There is no reason for complacency or lowering the guard. The decision to continue the targeted operation is a move in the right direction. The provincial government through its own law enforcing agencies has to compliment the efforts of the Rangers and intelligence outfits besides tackling the street crimes which basically is its responsibility.