Treasury and Opp hold Press Conferences after City Council session postponed due to insufficient quorum:
December 2, 2009
By Irfan Aligi
KARACHI: City Council Session held Wednesday was postponed till Dec12 due to insufficient quorum pointed out by the opposition benches. The convener of the house and city naib nazim Nasreen Jalil had postponed the session for half hour in order to wait for the late comers. On resumption, heads were counted but the quorum remained insufficient to have the session continue. There were 91 members present in the house prior to counting but despite a few had joined during counting hour, the quorum sill remained insufficient. Interestingly, some of opposition members had not returned to the house for counting.
Press Conference of Treasury Benches: The treasury Benches had later on held a press conference at the city naib nazim’s secretariat on the issue of withdrawal of secretaries of 134 union councils and freezing their accounts.
Addressing the press conference, Muhammad Asif Siddiqui said that Sindh Local Government Minister had promised to resolve the issue of secretaries prior to Eid Ul Adha but to no avail. The withdrawal has created problems to the public grievances at a massive scale as the UCs concerned were rendered inactive to play any role as regards to resolution of public problems while issuance of necessary certificates such as death and birth certificates and others have been pending a lot.
Siddiqui alleged that it was a planned conspiracy to sabotage City District Government Karachi’s (CDGK) performances regarding offal arrangements on Eid Ul Adha through withdrawing 134 UC secretaries abruptly and without their replacement.
Siddiqui regretted that Sindh Local Government had on the other hand, through another letter, employees of the UCs have been asked to furnish necessary details with secretaries while there were none available. It was all done in haste without proper homework and was deliberately meant to curtail CDGK’s role.
Siddiqui added that the situation has caused suspension of all development works at the grass root level while basic human rights as assured in the Constitution of Pakistan have also been curtailed. The situation has also caused UC nazims’ honorarium to hold because the audit department has yet to get a green signal for the same.
Siddiqui claimed that however, the fact is that even the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has lauded the city Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal for good governance.
Siddiqui demanded Sindh government to restore the UC status as that of Oct 18 and in case of any complaint against any UC, separate investigation should be conducted rather all UCs were forced to suffer.
Siddiqui alleged the beaurocracy had been spoiling the whole broth the smooth running of UCs’ business and resolution of public problems at the grass root level so as to create unrest among the masses.
In reply to a question, Siddiqui said that the leadership of the two allies in the government, the Pakistan People’s Party and the Muttahidda Qaumi Movement had been discussing the local government system at top level. It might happen that this particular issue might be spared for other occasion, as there were also many other crucially top matters that were concerned to country’s integrity. However, the top leadership was sincere to resolve the issue with complete harmony.
Addressing the press conference, M Abdul Jalil said that system should continue as it has addressed issues of the citizens at the very grass root level while measures taken to damage the system would lead to frustration and would be bad for the country.
Jalil demanded for democratic attitude and strong political will to allow the system go smoothly.
Press Conference of Opposition Benches: Simultaneously, the Opposition Benches also held a press conference at opposition chambers.
Addressing the press conference, Jamaat-e Islami’s (JI) Al-Khidmat Group (AKG) leader in the council, Rafiq Ahmed alleged a political party of Sindh for snatching hides and condemned it for an attempt to murder JI’s former member provincial assembly, Younus Barai.
Ahmed claimed that on day I of Eid Ul Adha, the activists of a political party had tried to kidnap Barai near Munir Fountain, Block 15, Gulistan-e Jauhar and on day 3, when Barai was heading to a barber’s shop for hair cut, the activists had again tried to kidnap him but when they failed to do so, they had shot him several bullet.
Ahmed regretted the Law Enforcing Agencies had remained inactive and silent while the activists of the said political party had been looting hides from others.
Ahmed claimed that the said political party had held the entire city under siege. Sacrificing animals was Prophet Abraham’s Suunah and hides should be used for helping out the poor but the said political party had insulted the Suunah of the Prophet by snatching hides on gunpoint.
Ahmed demanded government should chain the activists of the said political party and should promulgate an ordinance that would ban collection of hides by any political or religious party while government should collect all hides and should spend the revenue gained from sale of hides on deserving citizens.
Ahmed warned that if the situation would be allowed to continue, it would lead to confrontation among the citizens while law and order situation would be out of hand.
Ahmed said that if the government failed to curb the politics of hide, the economic and trade activities of the city would be ruined, which would leave a negative impact on country’s political and financial system.
Ahmed said that he had tabled a resolution on Younus Barai but due to insufficient quorum, the resolution could not be debated upon.
While addressing the press conference, JI AKG member Ramzan Awan said that the activists of the said political party had held the city under siege and had looted hides from JI, Jamiat Ulema Pakistan, Sunni Tehreek and other parties on gunpoint.
Awan claimed that 19 incidences of hide snatching from JI and others were happened only in District South.
Addressing the press conference, Pakistan People’s Party Awam Dost Group leader in the house, Haji Muhammad Jumman Darwan condemned attack on Barai and said that government has lodged an FIR and the culprits would be arrested shortly.
Darwan also condemned criticism on Sindhi Cap and warned the critiques to refrain from creating confrontation among different cultures.
Darwan alleged that there were some hidden hands behind criticism on Sindhi cap.Addressing the press conference, Shamim Wasi, Mir Ismail Barohi, Nasim Khan and others also condemned attack on Barai and criticism on Sindhi cap.
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