Mustafa Kamal calls for Karachi to be placed under federal control, demands repeal of 18th Amendment
Pakistan
He added that if MQM built illegal buildings, why were they not stopped over the last 18 years
KARACHI (Dunya News) – Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader and Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal has demanded that Karachi be placed under federal control and that the 18th Constitutional Amendment be scrapped in the wake of the Gul Plaza tragedy.
Addressing a press conference in Karachi, Mustafa Kamal said the entire city is questioning who the state has handed Karachi over to and why no meaningful action is being taken. He said the people of Karachi are looking towards the state to step forward and listen to them, alleging that the city’s population is being subjected to systematic neglect and suffering.
He said that whenever complaints are raised against the Sindh government, allegations such as the Baldia factory incident, extortion, and “gunny bag killings” are leveled against MQM, despite the fact that the party has no connection to such crimes.
Mustafa Kamal said that due to the Pakistan Peoples Party’s displeasure, the prime minister is unable to take certain decisions even if he wants to. He questioned whether MQM was also blamed for setting the city on fire after Benazir Bhutto’s assassination, or for ending all cases during the 2008 government. He asked why, if MQM is responsible for everything, it has not been punished despite the PPP ruling the province for the past 18 years.
He added that if MQM built illegal buildings, why were they not stopped over the last 18 years. Referring again to allegations of the Baldia factory and gunny bag killings, he said that during the same period, the president of the PPP used to visit MQM’s headquarters.
The federal minister said that the current system has collapsed because the PPP has been given a free hand to keep the federal government running. He stated that if Karachi is expected to keep sacrificing lives to save the system, the state should clearly say how many more lives are required. He demanded that Karachi be declared the country’s financial capital in accordance with the Constitution given by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and placed under federal administration, arguing that the current setup cannot deliver results.
Mustafa Kamal alleged that the 18th Amendment has harmed the people of Karachi and has become a serious liability for the country. He said the amendment is not sacred and must be rolled back to save Pakistan. Calling for federal intervention under Articles 148 and 149, he questioned whether citizens would be denied water, roads, and basic facilities simply because MQM is in the minority in the province.
He further accused the PPP of blocking funds even when MQM secures them from the prime minister, claiming that the Sindh chief minister intervenes to stop the release. He termed this “democratic terrorism” and demanded it end immediately in Sindh, expressing hope that the government and the state of Pakistan would listen and provide justice to the people of Karachi.
