KARACHI – The resentment against the Sindh People’s Local Government Ordinance 2012 is increasing in the masses and political circles, and the nationalist and other parties are ready to join hands against this unilateral step of the ruling PPP and its ally, the MQM.
The PML-F, PML-N and other parties have already supported the strike called by the nationalists on September 13 against the ordinance. Besides, the opposing political parties have started approaching each other to adopt a joint strategy against the PPP, MQM-drafted governance law and to go in the masses. Also, a joint meeting of leaders of the PML-F, PML-Q, PML-Likeminded and NPP on Sunday evening discussed the options of struggle against the very unilateral step at the residence of Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh.
The meeting was attended by Jam Madad Ali, Mahtab Akbar Rashdi and former MNA Mujeeb Pirzado of the PML-F, PM-L-Q parliamentary leader Muhammad Shaharyar Khan Mahar, parliamentary leader of the NPPP in the Sindh Assembly Masroor Ahmed Jatoi, MPA Arif Mustafa Jatoi, Naeemur Rehman and others. The meeting also mulled the option to move the courts against the local government ordinance. PML-F leader Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh told the media that all the parties, in the meeting, put the condition that the controversial ordinance be withdrawn, and then the PPP could negotiate with them.
He warned the ruling PPP that the situation might take other turn and prompt law and order situation in the province, so it should immediately withdraw the ordinance. He advised the ruling PPP to leave the issue of new local government law for the next assembly, as the tenure of the government was nearing its completion. Meanwhile, a delegation of the Sindh United Party, led by Shah Muhammad Shah, met with ANP provincial chief Senator Shahi Syed at the Mardan House on Sunday. The delegation urged the ANP to announce its support for the strike call given by the nationalist parties.
Shahi Syed, while talking to the delegation, termed the strike call as justifiable. He, however, said that the decision whether to support the call would be taken by the party’s central leadership. He alleged that MQM chief Altaf Hussain, in his address to his party workers, threatened the opponents of the local government ordinance.
He said if any untoward incident, similar to one on May 12, occurred in city, the MQM would be responsible for it. Meanwhile, the KMC announced to launch a youth awareness drive regarding traffic rules in the schools of the city.
In a statement issued here on Sunday, KMC Administrator Muhammad Hussain Syed said that a book of traffic for the awareness of traffic rules and importance has been published.
The book will help the upcoming generation to understand the importance of traffic rules.
He said initially the book would be distributed in around 522 schools run by KMC. He said the proportional increase in traffic accidents has been reported in which more than 26 percent children were the victims because of high speed of drivers.
He further said that after the completion of Zulfiqarabd oil terminal parking, oil tankers will not be allowed the entry in the city that would reduce the flow of traffic.
He said the projects of intercity bus terminals at National Highway and Super highway are in the pipeline and the completion of the said projects will reduce the major traffic problem.