KARACHI, Oct 13: A proposal put forward by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan about the administrative division of Karachi into three districts drew sharp criticism on Thursday with major political parties saying the rights body had poked its nose into a matter that exclusively fell within the domain of legislatures.

division of Karachi into Lyari-Keamari, Malir and Karachi districts, creation of a new division in the province, appointment of commissioners, etc.

As expected, parties in the ruling coalition did not like the HRCP proposal which, according to the rights body, was put forward by a group of concerned citizens led by Dr Kaiser Bengali, and cast doubts over the intentions of the so-called group of concerned citizens as well as the HRCP.

There was a consensus that the HRCP should not take political decisions because that would amount to a deviation from its basic principles and had a negative impact on its impartiality.

Dawn spoke to representatives of the Pakistan People's Party, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and the Awami National Party, the three coalition partners, as well as the Jamaat-i-Islami, also an important stakeholder in the city, to seek their views on the HRCP proposal.

Each one of them said they were not consulted or taken into confidence by the HRCP's concerned citizens' group about their proposal and they came to know about Karachi's trifurcation proposal only through the media.

“They [HRCP] are on an elevated position and they should be above political considerations,” said senior PPP leader Taj Hyder.

Talking about the proposal, Mr Hyder, the general secretary of the Sindh chapter of the ruling party, said the HRCP proposal was another political compromise on an ethnic basis.

“We expect any proposal from the HRCP would cut across ethnic, sectarian and provincial prejudices. Even the Supreme Court has emphasised the need for discouraging prejudices while delimitating electoral constituencies.”

He told Dawn that everyone should rise above political considerations and agree on universally accepted principles of delimitating district and constituencies. “A total disregard of political considerations is what we expect from a highly esteemed organisation like the HRCP, and that is a sustainable solution.”

While the PPP leader held the HRCP in high esteem despite rejecting their proposal, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement was somewhat harsh in its criticism of the rights' body proposal, saying the matter didn't fall within HRCP purview.

“Talk of the division of Karachi means division of various groups living in the country on an ethnic basis.

This is condemnable. Instead of making statements about the local gover- nment system in Sindh and division of Karachi, the HRCP would do well to raise its voice against violation of human rights across the country,” said the MQM members of the Sindh Assembly in a statement.

If implemented, the HRCP proposal regarding the creation of three districts in Karachi would end the MQM's domination in the city's electoral politics since it is believed that the creation of Lyari-Keamari and Malir districts would only help the PPP in winning more seats in future local government and general elections.

The MQM said the MPAs belonging to the PPP and the MQM would decide the local government system in the provincial assembly and with a consensus. “Both parties will take a decision [on the LG system] keeping in view the interests of Sindh,” said the MQM's provincial legislators.

The ANP also categorically rejected the HRCP proposal and said it was in contrast to the criteria the rights body had itself set for other cities of the province that was on the basis of population. “Why three districts for Karachi when its population has crossed 17 million? Based on the population and as per the HRCP criteria for districts having one million people, Karachi should have over 15 districts,” said a spokesman for the ANP.

He said the HRCP people presented a proposal on their own wishes and the ANP was not in favour of a separate local government system for one province. The whole country should have the same LG system, he added.

He demanded the restoration of five districts of Karachi and said that in view of an increased population two or three more districts should be created.

While a leader of the Jamaat-i-Islami said his party would give an official reaction after thoroughly studying and reviewing the proposal, he said the HRCP proposal was a new one.

“We know about the SLGO of 1979 and SLGO, 2001 but the HRCP proposal is new for the people of Karachi and Sindh,” said JI city chief Muhammad Hussain Mehnati.

He said the JI believed that it was the leadership which made a system successful.

The HRCP, however, distanced itself from the proposal. HRCP secretary-general I. A. Rehman told Dawn that “it was not our proposal” and was put forward by a group represented by Dr Kaiser Bengali.

Mr Rehman said the local government was an issue of human rights because it was the right of the people to have local governments and “we feel concerned” about it.

He said a movement was going on in all the four provinces to end the LG system, which was not a good sign. Besides, the position in Sindh was serious and it would harm the country.

So the HRCP only appealed to stakeholders to consider the proposal, he said and added: “This is not our proposal and we are not saying that it is right and must be accepted.”