KARACHI – Model-turned-politician Abbas Jafri has vowed to focus on civic issues rather than only fashion. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Jafri won the provincial assembly constituency PS-125 (Central-III), which has remained a Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) stronghold.
Jafri told the local newspaper that he would not be addressing the people’s concerns if he were to prioritize the fashion industry over his constituency. “You can’t teach fashion to people who are deprived of potable water and a proper sewerage system.”
Pointing out that even mosques in PS-125 lack water for ablution, he vowed to first work towards providing the basic facilities to the locals before making fashion accessible to them. With 30,687 votes, he defeated the MQM’s Abdul Haseeb well-known for the Muttahida’s headquarters Nine Zero.
The locals recognize Jafri for his humanitarian work, which was one of the contributing factors for the immense support he garnered during electioneering. Besides providing the basic facilities, the MPA-elect also stressed the need to curb street crime, offer better governance, proper garbage disposal, and sewerage system, ensure accountability and promote law and order.
“Water and sewerage are locality-based responsibilities,” he said. “Garbage disposal should be punctual. Despite four counselors running under one authorizing body, the relevant people aren’t properly informed of their duties.”
Before the General elections 2018, Jafri was already the senior vice-president for the PTI’s District Central wing. While he has spoken of forming a state-run Pakistan Fashion Council to promote local fashion trends globally, he also wishes to promote local culture and handicrafts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T09_KMk0LnQ
Talking about PTI chief Imran Khan’s mission to promote work within lower and middle classes so revenue flows down to the root of the workforce, Jafri shared: “I want to help this cause by providing work to lower-class citizens of rural areas and promote their crafts internationally.”
He said that throughout his door-to-door election campaign, the major concerns that the people shared were street crime, lack of locals in the police force, inactive hospitals and unpredictable law and order situations.
“We need sufficient local police bodies who can understand the civic dynamics of the city, contrary to personnel stationed from distant cities such as Umerkot, Khairpur or Dadu,” he said.
Jafri also stressed that Karachi needs more free educational institutions for poor people and to promote education in the society. Good luck Abbas Jafri, we are sure you will come up with something beneficiary to the society.
