Mustafa Kamal demands federal control over Karachi, calls for 18th Amendment repeal

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Mustafa Kamal has demanded that Karachi be made a part of the federation and the 18th Amendment be abolished after the Gul Plaza tragedy.

Addressing a press conference in Karachi, he said that to whom has the state handed over Karachi, the entire city is asking why nothing is being done.

Mustafa Kamal said that the people of Karachi are looking to the state to come forward and listen to them. He said that this is democratic terrorism and the people of Karachi are being genocided.

He raised the question that when complaints are made to the Sindh government, the MQM is accused of the municipality factory, extortion and sacked bodies, although the MQM has nothing to do with these crimes.

He further said that the PPP has been given a free hand to run the current government, due to which the system has become chaotic. Mustafa Kamal said that if Karachi has to make sacrifices to save the system, then the state should clearly tell how many more lives are needed.

He said that kill us, hang us on the cross, but our genocide should be stopped.

The MQM leader said that Karachi should be made the financial capital of the country according to the constitution given by Bhutto and it should be taken under the federation, because these people are not going to recover in the current system.

He alleged that the people of Karachi are being harmed through the Eighteenth Amendment and this amendment has become a plague for the country.

Mustafa Kamal said that the Eighteenth Amendment is not a sacred clause, it has to be withdrawn to save Pakistan.

He demanded federal intervention under Articles 148 and 149 and said that even if the MQM remains in the minority in the province, will the citizens not be provided with water, roads and basic facilities?

He accused the PPP of stopping the MQM from receiving funds from the Prime Minister. Mustafa Kamal said that this is democratic terrorism which should end immediately in Sindh.

Finally, he expressed hope that the government of Pakistan and the state of Pakistan would listen to him and justice would be provided to the people of Karachi.