City council resolution condemns rising street crime killings

Through a resolution presented in the general meeting of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation’s (KMC) city council on Monday, sorrow was expressed over the Lakki Marwat incident that caused the martyrdom of seven soldiers a day earlier.

The city council also condemned the street crime incidents that led to the deaths of Itteqa Moeen, Abdul Basit and Muhammad Fayyaz. A total of five resolutions were presented during the meeting.

Held at the council hall of the KMC head office, the meeting was chaired by Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab, and attended by Deputy Mayor Salman Abdullah Murad and Municipal Commissioner SM Afzal Zaidi among others.

Through another resolution, the city council expressed sorrow over the death of Union Committee 7 (Liaquatabad Town) chairman Shahabuddin, recognising his services and dedication to the betterment of the community and the promotion of religion.

Another resolution presented by deputy parliamentary leader Juman Darwan and Dil Muhammad expressed sorrow over the deaths of city council member Yasmin Butt’s brother, and UC-2 (Mominabad Town) chairman Mumtaz Tanoli’s brother, offering prayers for the deceased.

Addressing the meeting, Mayor Wahab pointed out that according to the traditions of the city council, meetings are adjourned when a council member passes away.

He also highlighted that 2.4 million people received treatment at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases last year, with patients coming in from various cities, showcasing the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) commitment to serving the entire country.

He noted that the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre provides free cancer treatment under the PPP government, attracting patients from all over the country, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Darwan remarked that individuals leave behind their legacies, and Shahabuddin’s contributions would always be remembered. Jamaat-e-Islami’s Qazi Sadruddin noted that Shahabuddin served as the deputy nazim of Liaquatabad Town from 2001 to 2005, living a simple life and being well-regarded by the locals. The JI’s parliamentary party leader Syed Saifuddin Advocate condemned the ongoing street crime incidents in the city, mentioning that over 90,000 incidents occurred last year, with 73 lives lost this year already.

He said JI members also met with the Sindh police chief regarding this issue. He also said that a retired judge gets a protocol of 130 policemen, while Rangers say they do not have powers. Neither the kutcha areas’ nor the city’s criminals are being put behind bars, he added.

The city council meeting was adjourned until 3pm on Tuesday (today). Speaking to the media after the session, Saifuddin said the mayor has been illegally imposed on this city.

He said that despite the killing of 73 people in Karachi in street crime incidents, the government is not taking the issue seriously. He added that they were stopped from speaking during the council meeting on the law and order situation.

He also said town municipal corporations have not been given their due shares. The monsoon season is fast approaching, while the KMC has not prepared any plan to deal with it, he added.

The JI leader said they are not against the collection of municipal utility charges & tax. “We are against the collection of this tax through K-Electric,” he said, adding that they would never let that happen. Meanwhile, small traders of Karachi protested outside the KMC building demanding an increase in the KMC’s markets. Saifuddin also joined the protest, and assured them of the JI’s support. The protesters said the mayor who calls himself a democratic mayor has increased the rent of the KMC’s shops by 75 per cent during a time when inflation is high. The JI leadership told them that they have submitted a resolution for them in the city council.