Author: Ahsan Mughal

By Ahsan Mughal KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi chief Monem Zafar calls for greater financial and administrative authority for towns and union councils, citing gaps in water, sewerage and waste services despite multi-billion-rupee budgets. Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi Ameer Monem Zafar has demanded an immediate grant of Rs5bn for each town and the transfer of full administrative and financial powers to grassroots local governments, as mandated under the constitution and the 18th amendment. Speaking to reporters during a visit to New Karachi Town on Thursday, Zafar said local bodies were being forced to fill gaps left by provincial institutions. He said JI-run towns…

By Ahsan Mughal KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) condemned the death of a child who fell into an open manhole in Korangi’s Mehran Town, accusing the Karachi mayor and city administration of what it described as grave negligence and holding local authorities responsible for yet another preventable tragedy. In a statement, MQM-P said open manholes across the city had turned into “death traps” for residents, particularly children, and blamed the incident on the failure of civic institutions to carry out even the most basic duties. The party said the loss of a young life reflected a systemic collapse in municipal…

By Ahsan Mughal KARACHI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) town chairman Gohar Khattak has denied receiving any resources to cover open manholes, saying he was willing to quit politics if proven otherwise, following the death of an eight-year-old boy who fell into a sewer in Karachi. Speaking to reporters during a visit to Korangi, Khattak said: “I swear on oath that not even a single manhole cover was given to us. If anyone can prove that covers were provided, I am ready to leave politics.” His remarks came amid angry protests by local residents, who confronted the town chairman over hazardous open…

By Ahsan Mughal KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) has strongly condemned the death of a child who fell into an open manhole in Karachi’s Korangi Mehran Town, calling it a failure of the Sindh government, the city mayor and municipal authorities. In a statement issued from the party’s Bahadurabad headquarters, an MQM-P spokesperson said the loss of a young life was the result of “gross negligence” by the Karachi mayor and the city administration. The spokesperson said uncovered manholes across the city had turned into “death traps” for residents. The party demanded immediate accountability and strict action against…

By Ahsan Mughal KARACHI: The Muhajir Qaumi Movement-Haqiqi (MQM-H) has reiterated the demand for a separate province comprising the urban areas of Sindh, describing it as essential for the survival of the Muhajir community. Speaking at a joint district committee meeting at the residence of Afaq Ahmed, MQM-H Vice Chairman Shaukatullah Farooqi stressed that the ruling party should not dismiss the call for a new province as merely a political slogan. Farooqi stated that the demarcation of Sindh into separate administrative units had originally been initiated by former Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, and MQM-H’s aim is only to implement…

By Ahsan Mughal KARACHI: Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement–Pakistan (MQM-P), welcomed the government’s approval of a PKR 5 billion grant aimed at supporting the families of missing persons, describing the move as a crucial step towards addressing a long-standing humanitarian concern. In a statement, Siddiqui expressed gratitude for the decision and reiterated his party’s commitment to assisting both the recovery of missing individuals and the provision of relief to their families. He highlighted that the program should explicitly cover the families of MQM-P’s missing political workers, pointing out that the party has endured the highest…

By Ahsan Mughal KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan Ameer Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has strongly criticized the privatization of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), calling it a national shame. Speaking at a press conference at the JI Karachi headquarters, Rehman said PIA, once a source of pride and a strategic asset, should never have been sold after decades of government mismanagement. He argued that PIA had generated profits and supported international airlines, but successive governments and officials mismanaged it through fake appointments and corruption. He pointed out that the airline made a profit of Rs10 billion from January to June after splitting its…

By Ahsan Mughal KARACHI: Sindh chief minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, along with Governor Sindh Kamran Khan Tessori, paid tribute at Mazar-e-Quaid on the occasion of the Quaid’s 149th birth anniversary. He said Pakistan’s progress was only possible by adhering to the principles of its founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Speaking to the media after laying a floral wreath and offering prayers at the mausoleum, Shah said Jinnah’s life continued to offer enduring lessons in public service, justice, constitutionalism and the rule of law. “We are committed to building a strong, just and prosperous Pakistan in line with Quaid-e-Azam’s vision,” he…

By Ahsan Mughal KARACHI: Pakistan’s founding father, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, had envisioned the country as a welfare state where all citizens would enjoy equal rights, the opposition leader in the Sindh assembly, Ali Khursheedi, said on Wednesday, as he marked Jinnah’s birth anniversary. Khursheedi, accompanied by fellow members of the Sindh assembly, visited Mazar-e-Quaid in Karachi to pay homage to the founder of the nation. Speaking to journalists after laying floral wreaths, he said 25 December was not merely a commemorative occasion but a moment of collective reflection and renewal of commitment. “This day reminds us that Pakistan was achieved…

By Ahsan Mughal KARACHI: Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, chairman of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P), extended heartfelt congratulations to the nation on the 149th birth anniversary of Pakistan’s founder, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. In a message, Dr Siddiqui paid tribute to the great leader of the subcontinent, stating that the occasion serves as a reminder to renew the commitment to building Pakistan as a welfare state based on the principles and vision of its founder. He emphasized that the country must continue its political struggle to establish a just and equitable society, where citizens enjoy equal rights regardless of…