ISLAMABAD: Most of the municipal, civic and administrative problems of Karachi remain unaddressed while political parties are debating the question whether the federal government has the right to exercise its authority in the city.
People of Karachi on the other hand are least interested in such constitutional debates, rather they are pleading the provincial, federal and the city governments to simply make their city a liveable place. Heaps of garbage on roads continue to emit foul stink, while several street are inundated with water, and sewers remain choked.
Law Minister Farogh Naseem’s recent statement of taking control of the administrative affairs of the biggest city of Pakistan has generated a heated debate between the ruling party at the Centre Pakistan Tehree-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) which is in power in Sindh.
Friday that is usually dedicated to expressing solidarity with Kashmiris in the Indian-administered Kashmir (IAK), saw senior leadership from both sides accusing each other of generating controversy and misleading the people on the issues of Karachi.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmoud Qureshi while addressing the National Assembly made it clear that the federal government didn’t want to intervene in the constitutional domain of the PPP which is the ruling party in Sindh. He however, expressed his disappointment at PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s remarks a day earlier in which he had referred to Sindhu Desh (Independent State of Sindh) and Pakhtunkhistan (Independent State of Pakhtunistan). Qureshi regretted that as leader of a major political party Bilawal was playing ethnic politics.
In the past all those who based their politics on ethnic divide were defeated and rejected by the people, said Qureshi. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Thursday had condemned what he called the federal government’s attempt to occupy Karachi. While addressing a news conference in Hyderabad, Bilawal had said PPP was the ruling party of Sindh and “will never accept any conspiracy” against the province.
He alleged that the federal government wanted to run Karachi from Islamabad.
Law Minister Farogh Naseem in an interview has recently referred to Article 149 (4) of the Constitution indicating that Prime Minister Imran Khan during his visit on September 14 might announce putting Karachi under the federal government’s control.
Bizarre and autocratic act
Bilawal questioned the proposed plan of the federal government and asked after using Article 149 (4) whether the government would be left with a moral ground to criticise the Indian premiere who did the same in IAK.
He called it bizarre and autocratic act if the federal government really meant to control Karachi’s resources.
Senator Raza Rabbani of the PPP also held a press conference on Friday and warned the federal government against any such move of putting Karachi under its control.
“Article 149(4) doesn’t give any licence to the federal government to exercise its powers against an elected government of a province and in the 18th Amendment of the Constitution it was done away with,” said the PPP leader.
While questioning the federal government’s control of natural gas being produced from Sindh, Rabbani said, “According to the Constitution the province that produces a resource is entitled to utilise it before providing it to the rest of the country.” He said Karachi people as well as the Sindh government would never accept any such move of usurping their rights as well as resources.
Not only Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) allies in the federal government have also criticised Farogh Naseem’s ‘ill-timed’ statement.
GDA’s leader Pir Sahab Pagara’s reaction
Pir Sahab Pagara, Head of the Great Democratic Alliance (GDA) that is part of the federal cabinet also expressed his surprise at Naseem’s statement.
The statement amounts to isolate Karachi, he said. “Karachi today, is more secure than in the past and handing it over to the federal government is not acceptable,” said Pagara.
He said Naseem should have spoken for the rights of Karachi particularly restoring it as the capital of the country instead of handing it over to the federal government.
What is Article 149 (4)?
According to the Article 149 (4) of the Constitution of Pakistan, “The executive authority of the Federation shall also extend to the giving of directions to a Province as to the construction and maintenance of means of communication declared in the direction to be of national or strategic importance.
The executive authority of the Federation shall also extend to the giving of directions to a Province as to the manner in which the executive authority thereof is to be exercised for the purpose of preventing any grave menace to the peace or tranquillity or economic life of Pakistan or any part thereof.”
