December 17, 2009
By Irfan Aligi
KARACHI: City Council of the City District Government Karachi (CDGK) has on Thursday passed five council resolutions (CR) on various issues. Important to all such CRs were on the end of condition of school uniforms in all public schools in the province of Sindh, sugar crisis and allocation of CDGK land to Sindh Institute of Urology and transplant (SIUT).
The house debated the National reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), Sindh education ministry’s decision for end of uniform condition in schools and colleges, sugar crisis, excessive electricity bills by the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) Ltd.
Both the treasury and opposition benches had welcomed the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s (SCP) decision.
The leader of the house, while speaking on point of order said he fully supports SCP’s decision on NRO.
He added that the decision would leave positive affects on politics at national level.
Pakistan People’s Party Awam Dost Group Leader in the City Council, Haji Muhammad Jumman Darwan lauded SCP for historical decision as he termed that for the first time in the history of Pakistan, the SCP has given a decision that confirms the freedom of the Judiciary.
Jamaat-e Islami’s Al-Khidmat Group member in the City Council, Imran Baghpatti termed SCP for landmark verdict on the disputed NRO.
He had however expressed his reservations on implementation of the verdict as he said that the SCP has done its job but the implementation was part of the administration.
He said that it seemed as if the beneficiaries of NRO would find a shelter under government’s shade so the implementation on it would be jeopardized.
Opposition Benches Muhammad Yaqoob said that President Asif Ali Zardari was jailed for ten years while no charges were proved against him.
He questioned the status of the Judiciary, as he asked why the Judiciary had not provided justice to him.
Treasury Benches Imran Ahmed had tabled the CR, which the house passed with majority of votes.
He expressed concern on end of school uniform from schools and colleges of the province as was claimed that thus the decision would widen the class system.
The treasury Benches condemned the decision and said that the Education ministry should withdraw such decision.
Treasury Benches Alam Zaib Durrani and Syed Sajid Ali had tabled the second CR pertained to sugar crisis.
They had expressed their concern on government’s failure to establish its writ and ensure sugar was available to citizens at Rs 40 per kg.
They said that the sugar crisis that has prevailed long has created unrest in the lines of the citizens.
They demanded federal and provincial governments to take multidimensional steps such as import of sugar and curbing sugar smuggling so as to resolve the sugar crisis.
The house passed the CR with majority of votes.
Treasury Benches Syed Absar Ul Hassan tabled the third CR that pertained to public participation as regards to maintenance of Law and Order at the Union Council Level.
While debating on the pons and crons of the theme, Hassan said that Sindh Home Ministry had issued order (DO {M&E}/ LG/PPC/2009/579) on Nov 11 for the constitution of Public Participation Committees.
He said that the implementation on the important order has been hampered after the Sindh local Government Department had withdrawn 134 UC secretaries.
He demanded UC secretaries should be restored immediately so that Public Participation Committees could be formed. The house had passed the CR unanimously.
Treasury Benches Asif Siddiqui tabled a CR on allocating CDGK plot of land measuring 3556.44 square yards to SIUT for hospital purpose.
According to details, a plot of land owned by the CDGK, No 9-RC-2 located at CDGK Works and Services Department’s workshop at Ranchor Lines Quarter.
The SIUT would pay annual rent to CDGK, which would be Rs 1 per square yard. The house passed the CR with majority of votes.
The house also approved a CR on payment of emoluments of Christian employees of the CDGK before Christmas Day.
Treasury Benches member Salman Mujahid Baloch while speaking on point of order said that the KESC was at one hand secretly increasing electricity tariff every month while at the other citizens have been issued electricity bill on average basis with high amounts.
He regretted that the KESC has banned facility of installments and the consumers have been threatened of disconnection if they failed to pay their electricity bill on due date.
He also said that the KESC has decided to retrench the strength of contract employees.
He also pointed out that the KESC has been inducting new officer-cadre employees with salary and perks higher than those already working in senior cadres.
He demanded government should take notice of the situation and should ask the KESC to stop these steps immediately.
JI AKG member Ramzan Awan while speaking on point of order alleged that the law enforcement agencies have kidnapped 6 persons of a family including Mrs. Talat Ilyas, her two daughters, two sons and one grandson from their residence in DHA.
He requested the convener of the house to assist in locating the kidnapped family.
He said that the said family was picked as a compelling tactic to assist the law enforcement agencies to grab nephew of Mrs. Talat Ilyas, who was wanted for being an active member of terrorist organisation.
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