To
establish the writ of the Sovereign citizen – We the People a
citizen’s rally has been organized by Shehri-Citizens for a Better
Environment and the Helpline Trust to mobilize the sovereign
citizens of Karachi to create new paradigms in their attitude,
thinking and responsibility to act as responsible sovereign
citizens. For many years people from civil society have come
together and established
platforms from where issues facing the sovereign citizens which are
not being addressed adequately by the elected representatives and
public servants are raised. Unfortunately, despite all the efforts,
time and money including threat to their life these civil society
groups who are forging ahead are being stone-walled and frustrated
by these elected representatives and public servants. Now the time
has come that all the sovereign citizens have to come together and
break down these stone-walls if we are to get good governance,
accountability and rule of law.
For 58
years every objection, every voice, every pain, every hardship of
the sovereign citizen has not been resolved nor heard but frustrated
and stone-walled by lack of good governance, no transparency, lack
of accountability and no rule of law.
Yet the
sovereign citizen continues to remain quiet and allow the unilateral
decision making of elected representatives and public servants to
play havoc with his/her life.
We ask
you what has this resulted in!!! We suffer by having no sense of
security, we are all mentally besieged as prisoners in our own city,
we have no rights, no water, no electricity, traffic congestions,
pollution, unplanned expansion of the city, violations of all
building and zoning laws, zero law and order, untold misery for
commuters due to lack of an alternative transportation system,
inadequate health facilities, education system in tatters, no price
control and no housing to name but a few, and sometimes when some
courageous citizen cries foul they change the law or he disappears.
All
advertisements and media blitz is about recreation and housing for
the rich, what is the average citizen to do. The beach has been
privatized, there is no recreation facility, parks are encroached,
footpaths are encroached, the nallahs are encroached and now face
it. Your basic rights are encroached.
See what
has happened around you. When the Karachi Circular Railway
was systemically and eliberately destroyed by vested interest, we
did not standup, the result is before us, each and every road is
grid locked. When they sold our drainage nallahs we kept quiet and
even occupied and bought. Flats and offices in these
illegal constructions built upon them. Little realizing the havoc
they would play twenty years later after a few millimeters of rain.
We allowed plazas to be built without adequate parking and
supportive infrastructure i.e. water, electricity and sewerage. Look
at the mess on Shahrah-e-Faisal, Shahra-e-Iran, Shahrah-e-Liaquat
and each and every Shahrah in this orphan city. There are no parks,
citizens have to go to court to save the open spaces, they cut down
trees, there is no footpath to walk on and most important whether
you are rich or poor nearly all of us have been directly or know
of someone who has been a victim of violence and traffic accidents
in Karachi.
Everyone
is dreading the holiest month in our religious calendar because of
rising prices and the traffic congestions that will follow.
Why are
we citizens spineless. Do we all suffer from the battered child
syndrome? What more do you need to suffer before you will rise and
take your lawful position as owners of this city. Remember if you do
not demand change there will be no change in the quality of supply.
What should
you do;
·
Establish ownership of your city and country within
yourself. Remember you are the sovereign owner.
·
Put your name in the electoral roll, go and vote.
·
Keep a check and balance on your elected
representatives. Change them by participating in elections.
·
Keep a check on your public servants. They for the
past 58 years have taken over as owners and refuse to accept the
fact that they are our paid
public servants and are
accountable and answerable to all of us. Do not be afraid of them,
they only have as much strength and power as you allow
them to have.
Tel.4530646, 5381842
Email. info@shehri.org Website www.shehri.org
Email. trust@cyber.net.pk Website www.helplinetrust.org