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Pakistani provincial budget per person.

Interesting to see various reactions.

Nobody is actually discussing numbers. Everyone is complaining about stuff which is actually the result of their lack of understanding. Lahore's population quoted is actually Lahore district, which is heavily urbanized, but had been under-reported due to classification by revenue department. This also means all of villages and suburban population around the city of Lahore are included. Similarly Karachi's numbers seem under-reported because of wild exaggerations gaining acceptance in popular imagination. The genuine under-reporting is that of 1.14 million that occurred because certain rural areas were not considered as the population of Karachi city in the census.

I am not making these facts up. Its all here:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1356681

"Hopefully this census will put some amateur estimates, wild exaggerations and ridiculous claims to rest and give us a better estimate of the country’s realities."

So all the people crying about things being unfair to Karachi need to read, understand, & then talk about the issue. For MQM partisans, this is the situation that had to happen given that you guys supported an ugly narcissistic megalomaniac for good 30 years. When I see educated, suave, & aspiring Karachi people settling in Lahore with their families and money, I feel for Karachi. But then my feeling for Karachi does nothing. It is up to the citizens of Karachi to actually do something.

Lahore and other cities in Punjab are becoming well-developed due to stability and commitment of local institutions and population at large. There is a large segment of population in urban Punjab that feels the importance of infrastructure and supports it. There is hardly any large city in Punjab that does not have at least one big development project in the works, or recently completed. The Sahiwal-Sargodha-Gujrat-Sailkot-Lahore quadilateral is Pakistan's Economic powerhouse and has been so for a good number of years now. Karachi got eclipsed due to bad politics and parochial ethnic approach. Metro opened its first store in Lahore, way back in 2007(?). Gourmet started in Lahore and has grown to be a strong local conglomerate. Urban Punjab works, pays taxes, & enjoys the benefits of stability. You can not find fault with that.
 
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I do hope PAKISTAN can have several not too many but very efficient special economic zones like SHENZHEN of CHINA to show the rest regions how a village can be developed to a Mega city!
I was a regular visitor of China in the 90s when all those economic zones and mega cities were still being developed.
The leadership of chinese rulers was exemplary and so was the hard work of chinese people. But here in Pakistan people want results without moving a muscle.
 
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Interesting to see various reactions.

Nobody is actually discussing numbers. Everyone is complaining about stuff which is actually the result of their lack of understanding. Lahore's population quoted is actually Lahore district, which is heavily urbanized, but had been under-reported due to classification by revenue department. This also means all of villages and suburban population around the city of Lahore are included. Similarly Karachi's numbers seem under-reported because of wild exaggerations gaining acceptance in popular imagination. The genuine under-reporting is that of 1.14 million that occurred because certain rural areas were not considered as the population of Karachi city in the census.

I am not making these facts up. Its all here:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1356681

"Hopefully this census will put some amateur estimates, wild exaggerations and ridiculous claims to rest and give us a better estimate of the country’s realities."

That is an opinion piece, right? Does it become a fact? No, it does not!

We are not neither ignorant, nor fools. When we complain we take into account all things such as demarcations and deliberate acts by PPP to steal Karachi's funds, resources and seats. Basically, it is in the interest of the largest province to ensure it retains its absolute and veto like position from elections to all other major decisions. After that comes in the Sindhi block of PPP which wants to ensure it's iron grip on Sindh which can only happen if urban population is below rural population by a large margin. And then the general dislike for Karachi across the country as all Karachiites are MQM supporters and MQM has been proved to be an Indian supported RAW trained organization working against the interests of Pakistan. Although the accusations and proof from the 1990's were later found to be tampered, forged and engineered by the establishment which has always had its own agenda. There is just so much vested interest in Karachi that it is bind boggling. And almost all of it works to keep the actual benefits of Karachi to a minimum to retain control over Karachi and to suck the actual income of Karachi dry.



So all the people crying about things being unfair to Karachi need to read, understand, & then talk about the issue. For MQM partisans, this is the situation that had to happen given that you guys supported an ugly narcissistic megalomaniac for good 30 years. When I see educated, suave, & aspiring Karachi people settling in Lahore with their families and money, I feel for Karachi. But then my feeling for Karachi does nothing. It is up to the citizens of Karachi to actually do something.

The force you call an ugly narcissistic maniac happened to be the jewel of the eye of establishment once. The only problem was that this force grew larger than imagined or anticipated. This force had everything to sweep Sindh and the possibly large parts of Punjab which was absolute no-no for the establishment and so came Jinnahpur. That Karachi saw unparalleled development and peace during MQM governments; that violence and crime are gifts of outsiders and establishment. Today, Karachi's residential areas cost over 2-3 times the cost of similar residential areas in Lahore and over 5 - 6 times for commercial areas. This happens when the population outgrows available land and when there is also an extreme amount of black money. Whatever bad has happened to Karachi is direct responsibility of the establishment.



Lahore and other cities in Punjab are becoming well-developed due to stability and commitment of local institutions and population at large. There is a large segment of population in urban Punjab that feels the importance of infrastructure and supports it. There is hardly any large city in Punjab that does not have at least one big development project in the works, or recently completed. The Sahiwal-Sargodha-Gujrat-Sailkot-Lahore quadilateral is Pakistan's Economic powerhouse and has been so for a good number of years now. Karachi got eclipsed due to bad politics and parochial ethnic approach. Metro opened its first store in Lahore, way back in 2007(?). Gourmet started in Lahore and has grown to be a strong local conglomerate. Urban Punjab works, pays taxes, & enjoys the benefits of stability. You can not find fault with that.

How about we swap your CM for CM Sindh for 3 years and then compare Lahore and Karachi???

Karachi not only has to fight for its share from the federal Government, it has to fight the Provincial Government as well. And it still doesn't get its due share, let alone it's due share, it doesn't even get a quarter of its due share.

By the way, I have no idea why you want to defend Lahore in your post, who is blaming Lahore???
 
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Suddenly the political led bureaucracy census teams have become so trustworthy that their word is above and beyond all neutral experts, surveys and sensible estimates.
Surveys are nothing but surveys. A sample survey of less than 1 % areas can never be accurate. such so called surveys are easily manipulated by any party interested.
Census results can not be challenged on the basis of pvt. surveys. Go to SC and u will get your satisfaction.

You are a Karachiite you say, so which entity, political or otherwise, has ever ever served Karachi? Name a single entity.
I am not a blind follower of any party nor I am worship any leader like god.

You say MQM has raped Karachi, PAC has raped Karachi but when you stopped short of other names, greater powers which have ruined Karachi and laid waste to a once blossoming and prosperous city it just doesn't seem right.
Lets face the hard fact that mqm and ppp are responsible for mess up in Karachi and sindh as whole.

Then you just don't behave like a Karachiite. Kind of exposes the real you.
I dont need character certificates from any one.

I'd like to believe that you are not a Karachiite at all, I mean why would someone speak against the benefit of his own city especially when one has to fight for each and everything that the city gets.
I dont need to prove my domicile to any one during discussion. This city has be ruined by so called custodians of this city.

This city had been destroyed by purpose by people who gets votes from this cityi mean mqm and also those who dont gets votes i.e. PPP.
Karachi is the only city is Pakistan where people voted for decdes on the basis of ethnicity and language. Mohajir votes mohajir. Pathans voted pathans. Sindi and baloch voted for baloch and Sindhi's. The only basis of voting is language and ethnicity nothing else.
U cant imagine to ask for votes on the basis of Language and ethnicity in any other big city of Pakistan.

P.S. It is not MQM which has challenged the census figures, it is Karachi and Karachi rejects engineered census figures. All political parties from Karachi are forced to speak against the census figures because it is a common and hot issue for all Karachiites, I mean the real Karachiites!

Come one its is the ethnic based parties who are questioning census results for obvious reasons.

What else u could expect from these bhatta khoor , bori baaz mqm, PSPand ppp leaders.

The city is normal and not a single demonstration in city on the basis of census results.
 
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I was a regular visitor of China in the 90s when all those economic zones and mega cities were still being developed.
The leadership of chinese rulers was exemplary and so was the hard work of chinese people. But here in Pakistan people want results without moving a muscle.
Pakistani gov should be more stable and efficient,I love Pakistan and as a bro,from what i can tell, demo system need economic support otherwise it will be tricky.
I am not saying china system is better but i can say china system is one of the most stable and efficient system in the world! And china did not invent it alone by itself,you can check singapour system,single-party system but very very efficient,even efficient than China i think.
China is the only country to jump from medium to high levels of Humain development since 1990‘s survey.
Check the UNDP website:
http://www.cn.undp.org/content/chin...ment/china-human-development-report-2016.html
 
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That is an opinion piece, right? Does it become a fact? No, it does not!

It is an informed opinion piece that happens to quote facts, not fiction. You have already made up your mind that fact is fiction, and that fiction is fact. The writer is a known person, has a name, a face, a place of work, a career, a track record, and a reputation. What does an anonymous account have? In any case, feel free to bring facts and develop a case to rebutt his fact-based opinion piece.

We are not neither ignorant, nor fools.
This sentence does not inspire confidence in your abilities to explain something.

Basically, it is in the interest of the largest province to ensure it retains its absolute and veto like position from elections to all other major decisions.

I guess we Punjabis need to bacially die away, just to make likes of you happy. Sorry, we are not gonna do that bro.

After that comes in the Sindhi block of PPP which wants to ensure it's iron grip on Sindh which can only happen if urban population is below rural population by a large margin.

Conspiracy theory #1

And then the general dislike for Karachi across the country as all Karachiites are MQM supporters and MQM has been proved to be an Indian supported RAW trained organization working against the interests of Pakistan.

Conspiracy theory #2

Although the accusations and proof from the 1990's were later found to be tampered, forged and engineered by the establishment which has always had its own agenda. There is just so much vested interest in Karachi that it is bind boggling. And almost all of it works to keep the actual benefits of Karachi to a minimum to retain control over Karachi and to suck the actual income of Karachi dry.

Conspiracy Theory #3 (It does have a lot of substance though)

The force you call an ugly narcissistic maniac happened to be the jewel of the eye of establishment once. The only problem was that this force grew larger than imagined or anticipated.

So was NS, so was ZA Bhutto. Now how many of MQM supporters complained during Musharraf's time when it had very strong backing from him? I do recall him giving MQM favors like demarcation, official protection, freedom to kill police officers, and various other sundry benefits. Nobody from MQM had any problem with any of that. I am not calling you an MQM supporter by the way. I am just pointing out that when MQM was the favorite child, nobody complained from Karachi about the unfair treatment. So I do not see a particular reason or rationale to complain about Establishment when it comes to Karachi.

This force had everything to sweep Sindh and the possibly large parts of Punjab which was absolute no-no for the establishment and so came Jinnahpur.

I can not say much about purported Jinnahpur. But I do think that your imagination is fooling you. There was absolutely no appetite for MQM in Punjab, anywhere.

That Karachi saw unparalleled development and peace during MQM governments; that violence and crime are gifts of outsiders and establishment.

Unparalleled support from Mushy also, and carte blanc to kill as well. I hope you remember what happened in Karachi on 12th May. How many outsiders live in Liyari? Do you call the Baloch people outsiders, when in fact they have lived there for generations? What other outsiders? Pashtuns? If MQM unit and sector incharges run extortion rackets, it is all halal and kosher, huh? When that Malika-e-Bartania ka ghulam mota beyghairat rolls in money, that is all halal and kosher, huh? When MQM's Namaloom Afrad shut down Pakistan's financial and business hub at the will of their psycho leader, it is all halal and kosher, hun? When Establishment favored MQM, it was all halal and kosher, huh? You see none of that, do you? All you see is that outsiders are the source of Karachi's problems? I guess agreeing to a definition of 'outsiders' would be a tad bit problematic, since everyone would have a unique one of their own. So then, what is special about your definition of 'outsiders'? I told you that Karachi's problems came about due to parochial ethnic concerns, and I was right. You just proved it.

Today, Karachi's residential areas cost over 2-3 times the cost of similar residential areas in Lahore and over 5 - 6 times for commercial areas. This happens when the population outgrows available land and when there is also an extreme amount of black money.

So you are a property agent now? How about the fact that Karachi is bounded by its advantage of being a port? It can not grow into the sea. It has to grow into desert. Lahore is not exactly bounded. It can grow in all directions, and it has done that. If Lahore has grown faster than Karachi, then its not a coincidence or a conspiracy. Lahore's town planning and urban amenities have grown along with the population and size, thus attracting even more people. Lahore's Pashtun population has increased a lot, and we love them like our own. We do not begrudge their ethic of hard work and their sense of honor. We do not blame them for any problems, either.


Whatever bad has happened to Karachi is direct responsibility of the establishment.

One word: Musharraf. Now multiply that with 9 years and hundreds of murders committed by MQM.

How about we swap your CM for CM Sindh for 3 years and then compare Lahore and Karachi???

Nothing too drastic will likely happen. There is a cadre of committed bureaucrats and party machinery that ensures that work gets done in Lahore. CM Punjab would not be able to do anything for Karachi, because the local administration and LEAs are stuffed with PPP & MQM party minions. The inertia would be too much. When there is a pervasive victim mind-set, then nothing positive can ever happen. This has to change for things to turn around in Karachi. Accepting reality could be a beginning. Supporting a Center-based party could also help.

By the way, I have no idea why you want to defend Lahore in your post, who is blaming Lahore???

Read other posts in this thread.
 
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It is an informed opinion piece that happens to quote facts, not fiction. You have already made up your mind that fact is fiction, and that fiction is fact. The writer is a known person, has a name, a face, a place of work, a career, a track record, and a reputation. What does an anonymous account have? In any case, feel free to bring facts and develop a case to rebutt his fact-based opinion piece.

Every opinion piece is "informed", but can all 'opinion' pieces be devoid of self interests, individual or collective? The author has shared facts, however what do we do when the very foundation of these 'facts' is challenged? I mean the census result can be considered factual, right? But is it not being challenged? Is it being accepted? And please do not go into the argument of having a face, a name and a career just for the sake of argument, do you have how much we have lost, how much we have suffered because of these 'op-eds'? I mean, by that logic, Hussain Haqqani's opinions are also 'factual' as they are all based on facts, he has a face and has served a career higher than most of us.



This sentence does not inspire confidence in your abilities to explain something.

It does, once you realize that there is a typing error in there. You may omit the 'not' and it becomes perfectly clear.



I guess we Punjabis need to bacially die away, just to make likes of you happy. Sorry, we are not gonna do that bro.

That is a sad interpretation of my post; what you, my brother Punjabi's can do is to ensure that there is justice served to the minorities. With greater power comes greater responsibility and much larger accountability. We can all live happily and a lot better than how we are living today. We can all be content when there is equality, when we become Pakistani instead of what we are today. Look at any of the first world countries, they all recognize themselves as their nationality and not on ethnicity.



Conspiracy theory #1

Conspiracy theory #2

Conspiracy Theory #3 (It does have a lot of substance though)

Is the above meant as an argument or lack thereof?

P.S. How can a conspiracy theory have a 'lot of substance'??



So was NS, so was ZA Bhutto. Now how many of MQM supporters complained during Musharraf's time when it had very strong backing from him? I do recall him giving MQM favors like demarcation, official protection, freedom to kill police officers, and various other sundry benefits. Nobody from MQM had any problem with any of that. I am not calling you an MQM supporter by the way. I am just pointing out that when MQM was the favorite child, nobody complained from Karachi about the unfair treatment. So I do not see a particular reason or rationale to complain about Establishment when it comes to Karachi.

Why would MQM or Karachi complain when we get what we deserve? When have we complained under the rule of MQM? Karachi has always been much much better of under MQM control and any argument against it is based on propaganda and bigotry. Musharraf was very smart, he always intended on serving the country to the best of his abilities and thus made sure he gave people what they wanted. We love Musharraf, we think of him as a hero.

I am a supporter of my city and I would vote for anyone who serves my city, I would vote for NS, IK, hell I would vote for Zardari if he served Karachi's interests. We get all that and more under MQM Governments as funds are actually utilized for development of the city as opposed to on corruption during other Governments. We have a mayor from MQM and a deputy Mayor and they don't have enough funds to pay every months salary, this is the state of affairs of Karachi. This is reality, we do not have water, as there is a massive mafia working on ensuring that we pay for tankers in every part of this city........do you know who is at the helm of that water tanker mafia? Let's just say it is the power that has an iron grip on the resources of the city.



I can not say much about purported Jinnahpur. But I do think that your imagination is fooling you. There was absolutely no appetite for MQM in Punjab, anywhere.

MQM was still growing, it was a political force of educated middle class people whose appeal would have swept other middle class families tired of land lords and feudals. The common thinking on the ground is that MQM invited an operation against itself the day it decided to become Muttahida Quami Movement from Mohajir Quomi Movement as the powers had always envisioned it to stay curtailed to Karachi and Hyderabad.



Unparalleled support from Mushy also, and carte blanc to kill as well. I hope you remember what happened in Karachi on 12th May. How many outsiders live in Liyari? Do you call the Baloch people outsiders, when in fact they have lived there for generations? What other outsiders? Pashtuns? If MQM unit and sector incharges run extortion rackets, it is all halal and kosher, huh? When that Malika-e-Bartania ka ghulam mota beyghairat rolls in money, that is all halal and kosher, huh? When MQM's Namaloom Afrad shut down Pakistan's financial and business hub at the will of their psycho leader, it is all halal and kosher, hun? When Establishment favored MQM, it was all halal and kosher, huh? You see none of that, do you? All you see is that outsiders are the source of Karachi's problems? I guess agreeing to a definition of 'outsiders' would be a tad bit problematic, since everyone would have a unique one of their own. So then, what is special about your definition of 'outsiders'? I told you that Karachi's problems came about due to parochial ethnic concerns, and I was right. You just proved it.

On May 12, MQM was following a script which was prepared somewhere else. MQM was the biggest casualty of May 12. Consider the period between 2003 and 2007, other than a May 12, the city was at absolute peace. We had to contend with muggings, mobile snatching and other similar street crimes but that is expected in a city so massive and with such a wide ranging demography of wealth. That period was beautiful. And than came an outsider, Zulfiqar Mirza, who had 1 aim and 1 purpose only, to eliminate MQM in particular and to wreak havoc on the Urdu speaking in general. He unleashed a reign of terror by arming Liyari Gang members with some of the most sophisticated weapons, weapons which have actually been used against Police and Rangers. The PAC (People's Aman Committee) unleashed wave after wave of terror under the patronage of LEA's and Home Minister Zulfiqar Mirza. Karachi had not seen such bloodshed since the operation of 90's. What I mean is, it is the outside interference in Karachi that causes problems for the city.

There are not many outsiders in Liyari, Liyariites have lived in Karachi longer than anyone else I guess.



So you are a property agent now? How about the fact that Karachi is bounded by its advantage of being a port? It can not grow into the sea. It has to grow into desert. Lahore is not exactly bounded. It can grow in all directions, and it has done that. If Lahore has grown faster than Karachi, then its not a coincidence or a conspiracy. Lahore's town planning and urban amenities have grown along with the population and size, thus attracting even more people. Lahore's Pashtun population has increased a lot, and we love them like our own. We do not begrudge their ethic of hard work and their sense of honor. We do not blame them for any problems, either.

When we take all the above into account we reach the conclusion that Karachi limits have extended beyond the Steel Mill and beyond the highway toll plaza, which has subsequently shifted to mark the transition. Karachi is expanding on all directions, the phenomenon of expansion is not limited to Lahore alone. On top of that, Karachi is not only expanding horizontally, it is expanding vertically. There are thousands of apartment complexes in Karachi and they cater to the larger population as opposed to Lahore. And Karachi still attracts more people from across Pakistan than all the other cities combined.

P.S. I recall you love for the Pashtun from when the first military operation started and how Punjab closed its border to ensure that the influx of refugees from the operation areas did not enter Punjab. We hosted them with open arms, Karachi did. Karachi has a heart bigger than the rest of Pakistan, we expect the same from our brothers in other provinces.



One word: Musharraf. Now multiply that with 9 years and hundreds of murders committed by MQM.

Now, is that meant to make sense? Do you mean to imply that Musharraf was the worst thing to happen to Karachi?



Nothing too drastic will likely happen. There is a cadre of committed bureaucrats and party machinery that ensures that work gets done in Lahore. CM Punjab would not be able to do anything for Karachi, because the local administration and LEAs are stuffed with PPP & MQM party minions. The inertia would be too much. When there is a pervasive victim mind-set, then nothing positive can ever happen. This has to change for things to turn around in Karachi. Accepting reality could be a beginning. Supporting a Center-based party could also help.

That is why I said 3 years, because CM Punjab would be able to change the provincial bureaucracy by then thus setting wheels in motion for betterment. Karachi has accepted center based parties on and off through MQM, the result has not been in our favor. We are always left at the mercy of PPP regardless of who is at the center.



Read other posts in this thread.

I did, intentions are the same.[/QUOTE]
 
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Census has exposed all tall claims of Mqm and karachites regarding population.
Come to Karachi, then go to Lahore, and then say Lahore's population is even near Karachi's

I've been to both, Karachi's population is double Lahore's easily

It is an informed opinion piece that happens to quote facts, not fiction. You have already made up your mind that fact is fiction, and that fiction is fact. The writer is a known person, has a name, a face, a place of work, a career, a track record, and a reputation. What does an anonymous account have? In any case, feel free to bring facts and develop a case to rebutt his fact-based opinion piece.
Like I said, a simple visit to both cities shows the census is wrong. Most Siraiki Maids do not have CNIC and would not have shown up on this survey. Nor would most people living in Kachi Abadis.
 
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Come to Karachi, then go to Lahore, and then say Lahore's population is even near Karachi's
I've been to both, Karachi's population is double Lahore's easily


Like I said, a simple visit to both cities shows the census is wrong. Most Siraiki Maids do not have CNIC and would not have shown up on this survey. Nor would most people living in Kachi Abadis.

No one said lahore population is anywhere near karachi.The whole of lahore district has about 11 million people compared with karachi divisions 16 million.
 
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Every opinion piece is "informed", but can all 'opinion' pieces be devoid of self interests, individual or collective? The author has shared facts, however what do we do when the very foundation of these 'facts' is challenged? I mean the census result can be considered factual, right? But is it not being challenged? Is it being accepted? And please do not go into the argument of having a face, a name and a career just for the sake of argument, do you have how much we have lost, how much we have suffered because of these 'op-eds'? I mean, by that logic, Hussain Haqqani's opinions are also 'factual' as they are all based on facts, he has a face and has served a career higher than most of us.

Let us not discuss anything then, since we are bound to have biases here and there. Does that sound right? One can weigh an opinion if it has a factual base. One can argue against interpretation of facts. But when someone presents a bunch of empty conspiracy theories, they can not be taken seriously.

You can dispute and challenge all you want. In absence of something more substantial, the census is all we have to go by.

P.S. How can a conspiracy theory have a 'lot of substance'??

A conspiracy theory may have substance by having a factual basis, but an emotional interpretation that is not supported by those facts.

Why would MQM or Karachi complain when we get what we deserve? When have we complained under the rule of MQM? Karachi has always been much much better of under MQM control and any argument against it is based on propaganda and bigotry. Musharraf was very smart, he always intended on serving the country to the best of his abilities and thus made sure he gave people what they wanted. We love Musharraf, we think of him as a hero.

Musharraf was the worst thing that happened to Pakistan. You just go ahead and sing his praises because you think you are beneficiary of his patronage. Excuse the rest of us, though.

I am a supporter of my city and I would vote for anyone who serves my city, I would vote for NS, IK, hell I would vote for Zardari if he served Karachi's interests. We get all that and more under MQM Governments as funds are actually utilized for development of the city as opposed to on corruption during other Governments. We have a mayor from MQM and a deputy Mayor and they don't have enough funds to pay every months salary, this is the state of affairs of Karachi. This is reality, we do not have water, as there is a massive mafia working on ensuring that we pay for tankers in every part of this city........do you know who is at the helm of that water tanker mafia? Let's just say it is the power that has an iron grip on the resources of the city.

You are describing today's situation. But you ignore how things got this way. In the noughts ('00s), MQM supporters were so very arrogant. They thought that Pakistan could not function without them. "Why do major parties come to us for support?" "We are indispensable", etc... Now that the umbrella of dictatorial support is gone, you are crying for the good old days. No sympathy for MQM - period.

MQM was still growing, it was a political force of educated middle class people whose appeal would have swept other middle class families tired of land lords and feudals. The common thinking on the ground is that MQM invited an operation against itself the day it decided to become Muttahida Quami Movement from Mohajir Quomi Movement as the powers had always envisioned it to stay curtailed to Karachi and Hyderabad.

You are a victim of propaganda. My sympathies for your condition. Please take a dose of reality.

MQM under Altaf's crooked leadership made serious strategic mistakes and miscalculations. MQM is suffering blow-back of its failures. Aligning with a hated dictator was the wrong thing to do. A change of course is required along with a change of leadership. It would then take a few years to slowly build back the party and be taken seriously in politics.

On May 12, MQM was following a script which was prepared somewhere else. MQM was the biggest casualty of May 12.

No sympathies here. Why was MQM following a script that was written elsewhere? Why could they no do the right thing? I think you are angling for yet another bogus conspiracy theory. Please give up. Recognize a failure of strategy, correct course, and go your way. That would be much simpler and productive than a futile tail chase.

When we take all the above into account we reach the conclusion that Karachi limits have extended beyond the Steel Mill and beyond the highway toll plaza, which has subsequently shifted to mark the transition. Karachi is expanding on all directions, the phenomenon of expansion is not limited to Lahore alone. On top of that, Karachi is not only expanding horizontally, it is expanding vertically. There are thousands of apartment complexes in Karachi and they cater to the larger population as opposed to Lahore. And Karachi still attracts more people from across Pakistan than all the other cities combined.

Great, another assertion. Now Support this assertion with numbers.

P.S. I recall you love for the Pashtun from when the first military operation started and how Punjab closed its border to ensure that the influx of refugees from the operation areas did not enter Punjab. We hosted them with open arms, Karachi did. Karachi has a heart bigger than the rest of Pakistan, we expect the same from our brothers in other provinces.

Nobody was awaiting refugees with garlands at the Karachi train station. Punjab admin correctly anticipated movement of militants and blocked it. That was the right thing to do at the time. Refugees were settled in camps; not the best solution, but the only practical one. TTP took root in Karachi thereafter. It was a failure on part of Singh government. You really should not blame Punjab for it. FYI, the number of Pashtuns in Lahore has really grown in the last decade and the census would clarify the situation.

Do you mean to imply that Musharraf was the worst thing to happen to Karachi?

If you think logically, then what was bad for the rest of Pakistan was indeed bad for Karachi too. Today's situation is the result of his many mistakes.
 
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Let us not discuss anything then, since we are bound to have biases here and there. Does that sound right? One can weigh an opinion if it has a factual base. One can argue against interpretation of facts. But when someone presents a bunch of empty conspiracy theories, they can not be taken seriously.

You can dispute and challenge all you want. In absence of something more substantial, the census is all we have to go by.

I agree, there is no point in further argument when there are vested interests and prejudiced biases. We are supposed to believe a Karachi that can absort 3-4 Lahore's holds only 3-4 million more residents. But since it suits someone else's agenda and the larger picture of Country wise politics, it has to be accepted. On one hand, the entire country discredits state institutions such as ECP, NAB, FIA, Customs, School Systems, Water Boards and other institutions but on the other hand we all must believe the 'verdict' of the Census department, they are suddenly the purest of the pure, devoid of any and all affiliations, directions and self interests. Yes, that indeed makes a lot of 'logical' sense.

But it serves your purpose and your conclusion, so there really is no point in further argument.



A conspiracy theory may have substance by having a factual basis, but an emotional interpretation that is not supported by those facts.

Again, a lot of words with little substance. A conspiracy theory is either a conspiracy theory with no emotional interpretation or it is a difference of opinion of an actual factual position. When there are facts, however weak and secondary they may be, a conspiracy theory changes its inherent nature to difference of opinion.



Musharraf was the worst thing that happened to Pakistan. You just go ahead and sing his praises because you think you are beneficiary of his patronage. Excuse the rest of us, though.

Musharraf was the best thing that happened to Pakistan is a long time, the only ones who say otherwise are politically bitten by the Musharraf regime. And those politicians are the worst things that happened to Pakistan. It was not I but the entire country that benefited during Musarraf's era and his departure was a black day for Pakistan. You may love the Zardari's and Bhutto's and Sharif's and Makhdoum's and all the other political elite, but the real Pakistani cares only for those who care for Pakistan and those who are good for Pakistan. Musharraf was probably the best thing that happened to Pakistan.



You are describing today's situation. But you ignore how things got this way. In the noughts ('00s), MQM supporters were so very arrogant. They thought that Pakistan could not function without them. "Why do major parties come to us for support?" "We are indispensable", etc... Now that the umbrella of dictatorial support is gone, you are crying for the good old days. No sympathy for MQM - period.

MQM supporters were arrogant? Who isn't??? Are your PTI/PML/PPP supporter any different? Does anyone in Pakistan, including PML(F) consider itself to be anything but indispensable??? In the early part of the century, MQM was in power and was working day and night for the progress of Karachi, it made a difference, a big difference. However, that progress was lost over time because of negligence and dedicated, systematic destruction of Karachi by outsiders.



You are a victim of propaganda. My sympathies for your condition. Please take a dose of reality.

MQM under Altaf's crooked leadership made serious strategic mistakes and miscalculations. MQM is suffering blow-back of its failures. Aligning with a hated dictator was the wrong thing to do. A change of course is required along with a change of leadership. It would then take a few years to slowly build back the party and be taken seriously in politics.

Altaf's leadership eventually got crooked, he lost his senses and gave in to paranoia and desperation. Successive Military operations against his Party, his followers and his continued self imposed asylum all contributed to the man going nuts. But once, he was THE leader, he was charismatic, he made sense and his words appealed to the masses. Could any other party have survived what happened to MQM at the hands of the establishment? It is a love or hate relationship, either they are in love with MQM and support it or they hate it and want to annihilate its traces. We just cannot compare the situation with any other political force in the country.



No sympathies here. Why was MQM following a script that was written elsewhere? Why could they no do the right thing? I think you are angling for yet another bogus conspiracy theory. Please give up. Recognize a failure of strategy, correct course, and go your way. That would be much simpler and productive than a futile tail chase.

Honestly, May 12 is beyond the scope of this argument. My opinion on May 12 is that it was the worst day for MQM, MQM was the victim that day.



Great, another assertion. Now Support this assertion with numbers.

So you pick on 6 words from 7 lines? Typical.

However, if interested, pick up any recorded migration or settlement registry.



Nobody was awaiting refugees with garlands at the Karachi train station. Punjab admin correctly anticipated movement of militants and blocked it. That was the right thing to do at the time. Refugees were settled in camps; not the best solution, but the only practical one. TTP took root in Karachi thereafter. It was a failure on part of Singh government. You really should not blame Punjab for it. FYI, the number of Pashtuns in Lahore has really grown in the last decade and the census would clarify the situation.

We atleast had our hearts and city open to migrants because we did not want the tens of thousands, already displaced from their homes and comforts, to suffer further based on assumptions that militants could be amongst them. TTP took root in Karachi because it was able to raise the largest amount of funds from Karachi, no other city, once again I know a blow to your ego, comes close to how much donation is collected in Karachi.

If the Government of Punjab was so concerned, they could have raised the concern to the Military leadership; which I assume was not stupid to initiate operations against terrorists by allowing the same terrorists to slip between their cordons and settle into cities. Nonetheless, I wasn't really blaming Punjab but rather apprising you of the fact that we have always had our hearts open to all those who want to come here and that is why influx into Karachi is more than all other cities.



If you think logically, then what was bad for the rest of Pakistan was indeed bad for Karachi too. Today's situation is the result of his many mistakes.

When I know that Musharraf was better for Pakistan than by extension he was better for Karachi too.
 
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