Mustafa Kamal announces ‘Pak Sarzameen Party’

KARACHI: Former Karachi Mayor Mustafa Kamal and other dissident members of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) announced on Wednesday the name of their new party, which will be called “Pak Sar Zameen Party,” sources said.
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 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.
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 polarization or division within the Pakistani society. This is our first principle.”
The party will propose a new party flag for the Election Commission of Pakistan, he said, but will “not even look at this flag.”