both opposition leaders had assured that activists and lawmakers of the MQM would be available to help the government’s civic authorities for providing emergency services in areas where the opposition party had the public’s mandate.
In the same spirit, said the minister, the previous day he met the leadership of Jamat-e-Islami to ask thir support, adding that he also planned to meet representatives of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Awami National Party, to enlist their support as well.
Shah said in the meeting with MQM, its lawmakers had expressed their dissatisfaction and reservations regarding certain civic issues, including the dilapidated condition of the related infrastructure, but he had assured them the government would sort out all the issues with their support.
He said the appointment of full-time administrators in Karachi and Hyderabad was no issue at all since in case of Karachi, the divisional commissioner held the additional charge of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation’s administrator.
The minister said he had been directed by the chief minister to clean storm water drains and also take action against encroachments in these places in view of the forecast of heavy monsoon rains in the coming days.
He said all political parties concerned agreed that local bodies’ institutions should be purged of ghost and absentee employees and the government too had been trying to eradicate this menace.
Also speaking on the occasion, opposition leader Khawaja Izhar-ul-Hassan said MQM was the second biggest political party in Sindh and enjoyed the mandate and support of public in major cities of Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur and Mirpurkhas.
He said being the main opposition party, the MQM would continue with its positive role for development and progress in the city.
He said the new local government minister had earlier served as the mayor of Sukkur city and this background allowed him to be fully cognisant of municipal issues. Hassan said the new minister would strive for the resolution of municipal matters in the province with the same spirit he had shown in the past to resolve public issues in Sukkur.
He said the MQM would provide utmost support and cooperation to the government to help resolve any untoward situation in the current monsoon season.
He claimed the MQM had no differences of any sort with the PPP, except for objections over the way the ruling party had governed the province.