Dewan Sachal

PTI's basic position is that the final decision about provinces will be taken by Imran Khan Sahib. He must be involved in the dialogue. The position that you are taking is remarkably opportunistic apart from being pointless as far as the future well-being of Karachi is concerned. Karachi's problems will not be resolved by placing it under federal control. The disaster that Islamabad has become is before us all. The people of Karachi indeed voted for PTI in 2024 giving us a sweep of 21 seats in the National Assembly and over 40 seats in the Sindh Assembly. These seats were denied to the people of Karachi. The same operation to rig electoral outcomes was applied to local government elections in order to hand over Karachi to the clutches of corruption and misgovernance by those who now wish to separate Karachi from the rest of Sindh. Who is to guarantee that Karachi as federal territory will not be handed over to some preferred mafia? As long as elections have no sanctity no system of government will amount to anything other than coercive fraud. PTI has always supported empowered local governments and will continue to do so. Karachi must have a clean, empowered and competent government elected by the people of Karachi. The plan to make new provinces by repealing Article 239(4) of the Constitution attacks the very foundation of Pakistani federalism and will leave Pakistan a less cohesive state. Article 239(4) was adopted in 1973 with the consent of all the federating units. It gives the provincial assembly of each province the power to approve a change in the composition of the province with a 2/3 majority. This provision is the cornerstone of the Federal Social Contract that lies at the heart of the Constitution. How can PTI become party to an abolition of Article 239(4) by a parliament that is a product of an entirely rigged election? PTI opposed as a matter of principle the right of this parliament to enact the 26th and 27th amendments. How can PTI now become party to an amendment by the same parliament that erodes the federal structure of the state? Leaving all else aside, it is clear that a severing of Karachi from the rest of Sindh would lead to massive disquiet that would sow poison across the length and breadth of Sindh. This poison would not leave Karachi untouched. The last thing the residents of Karachi need is being surrounded by an insurgency. Short-sighted fools who learn nothing from history are never in short supply. The only wise and effective way forward for Karachi and all of Pakistan is to insist on electoral integrity so that the will of the people comes to matter. The people voted away the MQM and the PPP from Karachi in 2024. They were fraudulently reimposed by the would-be saviours of Karachi. Please stop playing with emotions, principles and practicality. One expects a better from you.