Another MQM-P legislator defects to Pak Sarzameen Party

KARACHI: Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP)’s protest outside Karachi Press Club (KPC) entered into day second today (Friday) meanwhile another Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P)’s legislator announced to join Mustafa Kamal led PSP, ARY News reported.

The MQM-P’s Member Provincial Assembly (MPA) Sindh Irtiza Khalil Farooqui was also seen sitting beside Mustafa Kamal outside the KPC on the occasion.

Previously, there were speculations that he was likely to join hands with Mustafa Kamal on the second day of protest (today).

Irtiza Khalil Farooqui has reportedly returned to Karachi last night.

Addressing a press conference, Kamal welcomed him into his party by stating that his party would welcome others who were thinking to join PSP.

“We have struggled peacefully for over a year to address the issues being faced by the citizens of Karachi without compelling anyone to join us,” Kamal said.

“After a year long struggle, the party has now become capable of addressing public issues”, he added.

“The party has come forward to raise its voice and concerns on the prevailing issues of the city. It’s an unprecedented protest in which from common workers to party leaders are on road, demanding basic rights of the people”, Kamal said.

“In entire one-year long struggle, not a single building was damaged, a stone pelted. The party which was started by two people has now become a mass party as people are joining us”, he further said, adding, people joined PSP by their consent without any force and compulsion.

Kamal said water is a basic right of every citizen and the party making its efforts to address the fundamental issue without discrimination of any caste, creed or color. The people must be given their right.

“Forty percent area of the city lacks water supply lines while rest of the city faces water shortage including the posh areas”, Chairman PSP said while stating the city contributes 70 percent in revenue generation but residents here are deprived of their basic rights.

He also demanded from the government to restore Sindh Building Control Authority back into Karachi Building Control Authority and hand it over to the city government.

Lambasting Sindh government, Kamal said that Sindh building control authority has granted permission to builders for building ground plus 30 floors without keeping in view the future consequences.

He also demanded fulfilling the need of buses in Karachi and better sewerage system in the metropolis.

Another provincial lawmaker belonging to the Mutahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM) Abdullah Sheikh had defected to Pak Sarzameen Party on March 22.