"Demanding that Karachi come under federal control is not unconstitutional," Federal Education Minister and MQM-Pakistan leader Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said on Thursday. And he added that if such a debate is branded as treason, then the relevant clauses should be removed from the Constitution itself. He expressed these views while responding to media questions after a ceremony held at NED University, under the Prime Minister’s Laptop Programme. Dr Siddiqui said the federal minister concerned had returned to the country and the issue could now be discussed in the appropriate forum. Commenting on the Gul Plaza tragedy, Dr Siddiqui said dissatisfaction over the inquiry report was not limited to his party alone. "Not even the Sindh government is satisfied with the results," said. Talking about the deteriorating situation at the Federal Urdu University, he said funds were allocated twice for the institution. An investigative report is expected soon, he added, but the real problem lies in undue interference. "People come with recommendations and that alters accountability," he commented. On the unusual delay in the appointment of a chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) in Islamabad, the federal minister said that the selection process had been carried out in a transparent manner and a summary had already been sent to the Prime Minister. "We haven’t received it back yet. We will raise the issue with the Prime Minister, as this key academic position should not be left vacant," said. Earlier, at the laptop distribution ceremony, Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said that the benefits of democracy were now coming to Karachi. "Karachi was committed to building and sustaining Pakistan. We thank the Prime Minister of Pakistan for ensuring that Sindh students are provided with laptops." said. He noted that while the region had seen development over the past four decades, it had still lagged behind.
‘The center must manage Karachi’
