JI, PSP blame PPP for promoting ethnic politics over new LG law

Published December 13, 2021
JI's Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman and PSP's Mustafa Kamal address a joint press conference in Karachi on Sunday. — YouTube screengrab
JI's Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman and PSP's Mustafa Kamal address a joint press conference in Karachi on Sunday. — YouTube screengrab

KARACHI: The Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) and Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) on Sunday agreed that the Pakistan Peoples Party government was promoting ethnic politics in the province that would have “devastative consequences”.

The two parties also observed that the recently passed Sindh Local Government (Amendment) Bill 2021 would further widen the rural-urban divide in the province and ignite hatred among people.

The consensus emerged during a meeting between JI-Karachi chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman and PSP chairman Syed Mustafa Kamal at the former’s Idara Noor-i-Haq headquarters. PSP president Anis Kaimkhani and others were also present.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, JI’s Hafiz Naeem said that his party was willing and open to take on board every political stakeholder against the PPP’s policies in Sindh.

Also read: New LG bill tightens Sindh govt’s control over local bodies

“The PPP always chants the mantra of the constitution but now it has attempted to violate the same constitution. The ruling party recently bulldozed all rules of business in the Sindh Assembly. The Jamaat demands an empowered local government set-up for Karachi. The PPP should have returned the institutions taken away from the local governments,” he said.

He warned that the PPP’s moves had been legalising the politics of hatred and creating a rural-urban divide.

Speaking on the occasion, PSP leader Kamal endorsed the JI chief’s thoughts and said more than five years ago he had warned that certain parties would again exploit ethnic politics for their petty gains.

“I see the LG law as a gateway to the politics of ethnicity and hatred,” he said. “We already have suffered a lot due to this hatred and divide. This law would revive it. You are not making a law, but signing a document to create new terrorists.”

He said that the chief minister had seized all the monetary resources and powers to themselves in a sheer violation of the Constitution and against the spirit of the 18th Amendment.

“Until the powers and resources are taken away from the chief ministers and passed on to the people at street level, the integrity of Pakistan will be in jeopardy. The state must stop the PPP before it’s too late. Sindh province is not the dynasty of the PPP,” said Mr Kamal.

Published in Dawn, December 13th, 2021

Opinion

Editorial

Afghan outreach
Updated 11 Jan, 2025

Afghan outreach

Islamabad should stress stronger counterterrorism measures, yet also engage the Taliban high command in Kandahar as well as politicians in Kabul.
Fragile recovery
11 Jan, 2025

Fragile recovery

STATE Bank Governor Jameel Ahmed appears to be quite optimistic over recent economic gains. That is not unusual;...
Destination Europe
11 Jan, 2025

Destination Europe

THE country’s aviation authorities can rest a little easy. After a four-year banishment from European skies,...
E-governance
Updated 10 Jan, 2025

E-governance

Wishing for a viable e-governance system seems like a pipe dream when stable internet connectivity is not guaranteed.
Khuzdar rampage
Updated 10 Jan, 2025

Khuzdar rampage

Authorities must explain how terrorists were able to commandeer the area for eight hours.
Beyond wheelchairs
10 Jan, 2025

Beyond wheelchairs

THE KP government’s Rs370m assistance programme for persons with disabilities is a positive step, not only in ...