Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) on Wednesday demanded that 18th constitutional amendment should be reconsidered to devolve more powers to local governments in the country. 18th amendment has been misused in Sindh by depriving the local government from the powers and resources, the Central Coordination Committee's (COC) members made this demand at a press conference. They said that no one owns the city, which pushed it into the jungle of problems.
Aamir Khan, Deputy Convener MQM-P said that PPP Sindh government is treating Karachi like "conquered area" and pointed out that local government in Karachi was not released funds to cope with the heavy downpour in Karachi as well as the same was done in Hyderabad.
He said that MQM-P with its organisational setup tried its best to help the people in the city after rainy water flooded the city. Kanwar Naveed Jameel said that MQM-P would provide legal assistance to the families of those persons, who were killed after being electrocuted and said that he appealed to them to approach the courts.
He blamed Sindh government of encroaching upon all the resources of the city and said that even provincial government admitted that it collected Rs 244 billion from Karachi in the budget of current fiscal and later allocated only Rs 22 billion for it.
He sought the intervention of Prime Minister Imran Khan in the affairs of Sindh under article 149 of the constitution as it allowed him to seek the explanation from provincial government over wastage of the resources.
Faisal Sabswari said that superior judiciary should take notice of the situation in Karachi and said that former Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry also called for empowering Mayor Karachi. He said that Karachi is not begging but wants its share as it contributes immensely to the national and provincial exchequer.