Karachi Press Club
at Meet the Press Programme
November 06, 1998

Members of the Press

Karachi has again become a killing field during the last 20 months, thanks to the policies of the PML under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif. The situation is back to the brink where it was before the Army launched Operation Clean-up in June 1992 under the first Nawaz regime. Despite the fact that Pakistan was saved and normalcy brought back to Karachi; the dissolution of the Benazir Bhutto government paved the way for the situation to get out of hand once again.  Unfortunately, 678 people have so far been killed in Karachi in the first ten months of 1998, whereas the death toll was brought down to zero by October, 1996.

The imposition of Governor-rule in Sindh shows that the PML led coalition in Sindh failed to maintain law and order at the level where it was in October 1996.  Instead of taking the responsibility of its total failure, the Nawaz led PML has taken pride in imposing Governor-rule while violating all democratic and federal norms.  Devoid of principled politics, solely interested in personalised power, the Nawaz led PML, having alienated Sindh's two major communities and political parties, is left only with the option to impose a rigged assembly of its cronies in Sindh.  Two PML led coalition regimes under two tenures of Nawaz disenfranchised a majority of Sindhis. The Governor-rule deprives all the people of a most sensitive federating unit of all their rights.  The bankrupt policies of the Nawaz led PML had created the conditions for engaging the army on the domestic security front in 1992.  It has once again created an internal security risk while Pakistan is faced with an unprecedented crisis of its survival and is totally isolated in the world.

To keep Sindh's largest party out of power with a view to undemocratically impose the hegemony of a Qabza group from Raiwind, the Nawaz regime violated Articles of the Constitution, national security and trampled rule of law to form its minority regime in return.  The PML regime released the most dreaded terrorists who, later, unleashed a fresh spate of terrorism in Karachi - killing 399 persons in 1997, raising to 678 in 1998.  All this was done as part of the politics of revenge, which has been the hallmark of the politics of the political heir of General Zia-ul-Haq.  Sindh was sacrificed at the altar to get revenge against the arrest of the father of Nawaz Sharif, a man wanted for money laundering, bank defaults and tax evasion.  So Senator Asif Zardari had to be arrested, Sindh's industry shut down, its bankers and businessmen thrown behind bars under a hand-picked Sindh regime.

The price of revenge was a devil's pact under which those who had led a mini insurgency to create Jinnahpur, a map of which was released by Brigadier Haroon, were freed.

It is this hallmark of the politics of revenge practised by the Nawaz led PML which has led to the anger and frustration of the people of Pakistan and hit at the roots of national solidarity and unity.

Unfortunately, the politics of revenge has been accompanied by a bitter racial prejudice against the different ethnic groups making up Pakistan.  This racial prejudice has led to the enactment of Ehtesab laws, the sacking of Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, the imposition of President Tarar, the ethnic cleansing of the Federal bureaucracy, taxation department, police force, banks, corporations, such as WAPDA, Railways, PTC, PSO, Sui Gas, Steel Mills.

More serious is the expression of racial prejudice in the program of down sizing.  Tens of thousands of workers belonging to minority provinces lost their jobs alongwith those from the majority provinces. This was done to protect the Raiwind bloodsuckers who had run away with money from public sector banks refusing to repay them.  British newspapers have documented how the money was laundered using forged passports.  Revenge and racial prejudice have lit the fires of parochialism, which, if not extinguished in time, can incinerate the whole Country.

It was with great difficulty that Pakistan Peoples Party had healed parochial sentiments, insurgency and established the writ of the State.  Tragically, the forces that conspire to kill Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan, disqualify Prime Minister Suhrawardy, hanged Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, destabilise the governments of Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, adopted myopic policies which are damaging the Federation. The attempts to settle political scores through a handful of judges at Lahore High Court is having a devastating effect on national interest.  Increasingly the regime is besieged - the more powers its takes, the weaker it becomes. 

Over 1,000 terrorists were released by the Nawaz regime, those involved in at least 600 murder cases, were set free in violation of Article 6 of the Constitution.  The intelligence agencies and the Sindh Law Department opposed the move since there was no provision in law for the withdrawal of heinous criminal cases, especially the murder cases, unless the accused is acquitted by the Court of law.

The terrorists consequently killed 72 law enforcement personnel, including 61 policemen and 11 Rangers jawans.

While the terrorists were rewarded and compensated at State expenses, those who risked their lives to restore law and order were punished or eliminated. The Nawaz led PML regime systematically encouraged terrorism while discouraging the civilian law enforcing agencies in performing their lawful duties.

A hefty amount of Rs. 700 million from the Federal kitty was paid as compensation to terrorists amongst them those on whom the State has placed head-money. Besides paying compensation money, the Nawaz regime constituted a high-level judicial commission to probe into the alleged cases of extra-judicial killing between 1992-96. The objective was not actually to punish those who had committed excesses, but to demoralise the law enforcement agencies who had conducted anti-terrorists operation in Karachi.

Shortly after the dastardly murder of Hakim Said the very Party which is now accused of his murder by Nawaz Sharif himself, were awarded three additional ministries. When they refused to vote for the Shariat Bill despite the bait, one Fasih Jugnoo was killed in police custody. This death has raised many eyebrows. After all if the MQM activists  were involved in terrorist acts, it is no secret that Nawaz had colluded with the terrorists and had a close relationship with them.  What did Fasih Jugnoo know about Nawaz.  Now the Advocate General Sindh has stated in the High Court that the main accused has not confessed to the murder of Hakim Said, which makes many people wonder if the Government did it.

Ansar Burney Trust has alleged that a criminal known as "Kashif" used to carry out murders for the Ittefaq family.  When Kashif threatened to talk, he was extra-judicially murdered in Lahore.

Therefore, the public is confused.  Was Fasih Jugnoo involved in the murder of Hakim Said on the orders of MQM or was it on the orders of Nawaz Sharif.

I have been alleging for some time that some of the bodyguards of my brother were involved with my political opponents to trigger a situation leading to the death of my brother with a view to destabilise a democratic government, which had given Pakistan peace, stability, progress, development and national honour and pride.

However, the Nawaz led PML colluded in the cover of that brutal slaying by releasing the bodyguards, rewarding them with jobs and much more.   It is no secret that some of these desperadoes are awash with money and living well beyond their means.

With such a track record of colluding with criminals, terrorists, and murders  for narrow, politically expedient gains, the Nawaz led PML lost all credibility. Therefore, when it charges MQM with the murder of Hakim Said, people wonder about the real motives. They wonder why appeals are being made for the killers to turn themselves in. When has a killer ever turned himself in?  The law provides for the arrest of all and any killers.  If the regime has proof, it should make the arrest and try it before a court of law.  A media trial serves no purpose other than muddying the waters.

The resurgence of terrorism in Karachi has not only reinforced the economic slowdown, but has also stifled all  chances of investment and growth at a time when Pakistan is faced with a crisis of balance of payments.  The paralysis of Karachi will further deepen the hardships faced by the people  and increase unemployment.  It will bring down the GDP growth, exports and revenues, thus creating a greater fiscal and current account deficit than estimated, since Karachi is the main contributor.

On the other hand    PPP as a single majority party in Sindh, during the 1998-90 and 1993-96, still formed a coalition with the MQM (A) to bring ethnic harmony in Sindh and ensure the participation of all in governance.  But, as opposed to the PML (N), the  PPP did not compromise on two principles: one, it did not compromise on the rule of law. Two, it refused to release terrorists.

The Benazir Bhutto government adopted a three-pronged strategy to normalise the situation in Karachi. first it withdrew the Army in November 1994 and tried to normalise the situation through negotiations. When the terrorists refused to drop arms and increased violence, the Sindh government used the law of the land to arrest those wanted and produced them before the courts, fundamental human rights remained in force, political activity stayed in place, providing a safety value.

Most of the terrorist networks were busted and Karachi was freed from the deadly clutches of terrorism.

Two, it addressed the real problems faced by the Karachi'ities   by launching a Karachi package worth Rs. 121 billion to improve water and power supply, public transport and traffic, education and health services, communication and employment opportunities.  Massive development projects were launched including Mai Kolachi By-Pass, Jinnah Bridge, Lilly Bridge, Shahrah-e-Faisal flyover, expansion of Kala Pul, and of load shedding, water for Orangi and Lyari, which have been completed.  The Benazir government successfully attracted a good number of foreign investors to Karachi by making the metropolitan city's atmosphere more congenial to investment. Foreign investment of US Dollars 2 billion was made in the Port Qasim Industrial Area alone between 1994 and 1996, thus generating employment for the educated unemployed youth - Karachi's biggest cause of social discontent.  The Stock Exchange had reached the highest peak of 2800 points and Karachi revived its economic dynamism.  This was an exceptional period of development, after Prime Minister Z.A. Bhutto's, when massive development projects were undertaken. The list of projects at the stage of completion in October 1996 on the ground and details of Foreign Private Sector investment in Port Qasim are attached to this Facts Sheet.

Third, efforts at reconciliation among different ethnic groups.  Continue the door was kept open for negotiation Karachi'ites began to feel safe and protected.

A comprehensive alternative

On behalf of the Opposition I unveil our plans for a political solution to the Karachi problem.

1. Immediate withdrawal of the Governor-rule and emergency from Sindh,

2. Establishment of a grand government of reconciliation consisting of all elected representatives committed to bring ethnic harmony, peace and an end to terrorism as a mode of politics.

3. Thorough cleansing of the law enforcing agencies and creation of citizens bodies to supervise the law and order situation.

4. Action under the law against all armed bands, terrorists and mafias without any exception and making Karachi free of arms.

5. Formation of a dozen judicial commissions to scrutinize all cases of politically-motivated crimes.

6. Maximum autonomy for the Metropolitan Corporation representing all ethnic groups proportionate to their share in population while devolving most powers to the district governments.

7. Restructuring and reforms in all civic bodies and utilities agencies and development authorities with the participation of professional managements and concerned citizens.

8. Raising metropolitan revenues which are necessary to improve the utilities, social services and undertake development programmes with the direct participation of the people.

9. Developing an all-embracing autonomous monitoring system to ascertain the performance of all local departments and creation of regulatory authorities to supervise all local agencies and provider of utilities.

10. Evolving a Master Plan for Karachi, keeping in view the growth and requirement of the city in the next two decades.

11. Redemarcation of constituencies to ensure the representation of all without any discrimination.

12. Release of Electoral Rolls 1995 and fair local bodies elections under the same. Measures to minimize unemployment by reviving private sector and developing new avenues of self-employment schemes, etc.

Fresh census using modern technology with results collated and announced immediately at the district level.

A depoliticised civil bureaucracy and police force with the sole object of ruler law, not for settling political scores.

The PPP invites all intellectuals, professionals, elected representatives, leading personalities of all ethnic groups, leaders of different sectors of economy, students, artists, journalists and NGOs in Sindh to back a political solution for Karachi’s problems.

List of Projects to resolve the Transport, Power, Water Supply and Sanitation problems of Karachi.

Pakistan Peoples Party Government

1993-1996

            Name of Projects

•         University Road Flyover

•         Bridge at Rahid Minhas Road

•         Rashid Minhas Road Flyover

•         Shah Faisal Colony Flyover

•         Truck Stand at Hawksbay

•         Hub River Road Improvement

•         Lilly Road Bridge

•         Old Kalapul Bridge

•         Flyover on Clifton Bridge

•         Liaquatabad Flyover

•         Widening of Lasbellah Bridge

•         Link Road between Shaheed-e-Millat road to Tin Hatti

•         Lyari Express Way

•         Jinnah Bridge with Flyover connection

•         Bridge at Mauripur Road

•         Malir Bund Flood Protection

•         Bin Qasim Park

•         Storm Water Drainage Scheme

•         Hospital Complex in Malir

•         Children Hospital at North Karachi

•         Grid Station Lyari

•         Improvement of Distribution

•         6^th 210 MW Unit at Bin Qasim

•         35 KW 220 KV Lines

•         Pumping and Conveyance System (under Greater Karachi Water Supply Scheme)

•         100 MGD Water Supply Scheme

•         Hub & Pipri Improvement Works

•         Greater Karachi Sewerage Project (54 MGD)

•         Lyari Sewerage System

•         Sewerage (100)(Mehmoodabad+SITE)

PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT AT PORT QASIM

INITIATED

 Pakistan Peoples Party’s Government

1993-1996

S.No.               Name of Projects                    Name of Investor        Investment volume in 

                                                                                                         Millions US dollars

01                    FOTCO Oil Terminal       Fauji Foundation                              80.00

02                    Container Terminal         Qasim International 
                                   Container Terminal                           80.00

03                    PTA Plant                        ICI                                               400.00

04                    Engro Chemicals           Engro Pakistan Fertilizer Complex    400.00

05                    Fauji Fertilizer Plant       Fauji Jordan Fertilizer Co                 400.00

06                Chemicals Jetty             Engro Paktank                               67.00

 07               LNG Power Plant           Tractebel                                       400.00

08                Grain Terminal                                                                  100.00

09                Fertilizer Terminal                                                               50.00

10                Edible Oil Refinery           Awam Private Ltd                          20.00

11                Edible Oil Refinery           MAPAK Qasim Bulkers                 11.29

                                                                         Total                            2,008.29