KARACHI: Emir Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman, said on Monday that the Karachi Mayor had taken complete control of all civic institutions, leaving the city with no one to look after its affairs.
Addressing a press conference in Karachi alongside JI Karachi chief Munim Zafar, the JI emir said that citizens were being humiliated in the name of the BRT project. He added that corruption had become a major business in the Sindh government, and everyone knew who was backing them. He also pointed out design flaws in the BRT project.
He demanded that the BRT project be scrapped and University Road restored. He claimed that homes in Gulshan-e-Iqbal were being occupied using fake documents.
He warned that if anyone tried to take over a citizen’s house, the JI will resist, adding that the party has already formed a dedicated cell for such issues.
He said resistance will continue against land grabbing. He urged the government to rein in those running the system. He added that land grabbing happens across Pakistan—farmers and peasants lose their lands, fake housing schemes are built along the River Ravi, and even riverbeds are encroached upon. He said the struggle against land grabbing would be a key component of changing the system.
The JI emir also criticised the MQM, saying the party engaged in “fixed fights” to fool the public. He claimed that the MQM stood with those who took control of KDA, LDA, and MDA. He stressed that resistance against occupiers will continue, adding that no one cares about Karachi and that the government is responsible for the situation. He vowed not to abandon the citizens of Karachi.
He further said that small farmers’ lands are taken over, and Karachi should have received a trillion rupees in funds, but this clause was removed during Mustafa Kamal’s tenure when the MQM was part of the government.
Munim Zafar
Speaking on the occasion, Zafar said children were falling into open gutters and dying, and the city’s infrastructure was in ruins. He strongly condemned the latest incident.
He added that even 12 hours after the child drowned, the body had not been recovered. He said the tragedy could not be condemned enough, and despite repeated calls, the KMC was nowhere to be seen.
He said the UC chairman had lodged a complaint about the ditch on October 29. He added that all town chairmen were on board, and the departments responsible must play their part.
