Courtesy:  Dawn.com

Former Karachi mayor Mustafa Kamal addressing a press conference –DawnNews

KARACHI: Announcing the name of his ‘new party’ on Wednesday, former Karachi mayor Mustafa Kamal said the “Pak Sarzameen Party” will release its manifesto in the near future.

The manifesto is being drafted by those who are “most competent”, he said

“It should be clear to you that those of us on this path are not here to distribute power, gain power, to steal power or to steal positions,” Kamal said, adding that he and his colleagues “curse such power, posts and privilege which cannot serve the people”.

“The people of Karachi are witness to the time we had the power to bring change,” he said, referring to his time as mayor of the metropolis, “And when the time came that those positions were just posts of power, we left.”

“The day we distanced ourselves from this sin, we became rich,” he said, gesturing to himself and colleague Anis Kaimkhani, while referring to their separation from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).

“The freedom of Kashmir is the first priority of the establishment… Which Pakistani doesn’t want freedom for Kashmir? If the establishment has the same agenda, does that mean Pakistanis will stop wanting it?” he asked.

‘Will not allow further polarisation’

Lamenting the fragmented condition of the population along ethnic and religious lines, he said, “We don’t want to divide people’s hearts further.”

“If you want to join us, you must first respect our political opponents,” he said. “We will not allow more polarisation or division within the Pakistani society. This is our first principle.”

‘Party flag a cause for divide’

The party will propose a new party flag for the Election Commission of Pakistan, he said, but will “not even look at this flag”.

“We will not hand it to our workers. We will only raise the flag of Pakistan. What constitution can stop me from raising the Pakistani flag?” he asked.

“A party’s flag is where divide begins… Everyone, no matter what political party he belongs to, believes in our symbol,” he said, referring to the Pakistani flag he had raised as the party symbol with Anis Kaimkhani at his first press conference upon his return to Karachi.

“It will be our responsibility to respect those who believe in this flag.”

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