Says all his attempts to convince provincial and federal govts to give local bodies their due rights have been in vain
Karachi mayor Waseem Akhtar announced on Friday that he would move the apex court for the transfer of due powers and resources to local bodies as his attempts to convince the provincial and federal governments to carry this out had been in vain.
“I am not alone in this because even the chairpersons and vice chairpersons belonging to the Pakistan People’s Party in other parts of Sindh have also contacted me and told about their plight of not possessing any powers,” Akhtar told reporters at a press conference at the KMC Building.
“They told me that they too are willing to join me in approaching the court for the due rights of local bodies.”
Akhtar said he would move the Supreme Court under Article-140 (A) of the Constitution to address the grievances.
The mayor said all his efforts to seek assistance from the provincial and federal governments for the betterment of Karachi had remained fruitless.
He added that he had decided to not make any further requests to the provincial and federal governments for the provision of resources for the development work in Karachi.
“I will go to the Supreme Court as the local bodies elections too were held on its orders.”
Akhtar, while speaking on the 100-day cleanliness drive in Karachi, said the target was to carry out the campaign in 21 union councils of the city. “Keeping in view the available resources, our efforts and commitment, our performance in those 100 days should be given 100 out of 100 marks,” he added.
He said the provincial and federal governments did not bother to support the local government in its drive.
The mayor said apart from the cleaning effort, road carpeting, fumigation and other tasks too had been carried out in 100 days in Central, East, South, Korangi, West and Malir district by the municipal staff.
Akhtar said besides lifting garbage, the local government’s departments too were being streamlined.
“We received everything in ruins when we assumed charge of municipal organizations. Now we are making all efforts possible to set things right.”
The mayor said if the Sindh government was performing its duties, he would not be addressing this press conference.
“Neither are they [the Sindh government] working nor do they want me to work.”
Akhtar was flanked by deputy mayor Dr Arshad Abdullah Vohra, DMC Central chairman Rehan Hashmi, vice chairman Shakir Ali, DMC East chairman Moeed Anwer, vice chairman Abdul Rauf, DMC Korangi chairman Nayyar Raza, DMC South vice chairman Mansoor Shaikh, municipal commissioner Hanif Muhammad Mirchiwala, financial adviser Khalid Mehmood and senior officers of the KMC.
The mayor also pointed out that the Sindh government’s inefficiency and failure could be gauged from the fact that courts were issuing orders for the removal of incompetent officers.
He cited the example of the KWSB MD Misbahuddin Farid, who had been removed from the post on the apex courts’ orders. “You [the PPP] have turned Karachi into an autaq and usurped the rights of its people.”
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