Accountability: Mahar fears economy will collapse if looting in Sindh continues

Opposition leader Shaharyar Mahar speaks to media on Monday

SUKKUR: If the current trend of looting and plundering continues in Sindh, the economy will collapse in the next two to three years, warned Shaharyar Mahar.

The provincial opposition leader was speaking to the media on Monday afternoon at a function organised by the Sukkur Development Alliance, a group of citizens advocating for better infrastructure and facilities in the city.

Billions of rupees are allocated to the local government department but the sanitation, drainage and water supply problems worsen day by day, he pointed out. “This only means that a large amount of the money is pocketed,” said Mahar.

The opposition leader regretted how bad the civic conditions were in Sindh’s third largest city, Sukkur. “It seems that not a single penny has been spent on its development,” he said.

Mahar pointed out that the budget did not include any allocation in the development funds for Sukkur. “When I protested this discrimination, I was informed that Rs20 billion were allocated to Sukkur’s mega projects in the last five years,” he said. “Where are the funds going?”

He also lauded the efforts of the Sukkur Development Alliance. “You should raise your voice against the injustices being carried out in Sukkur and other parts of Sindh,” he suggested. “This trend of corruption should come to an end before it is too late.”

Mahar gave a warning to the politicians that ‘files’ are being updated somewhere and that they should not forget that ‘big brother’ is watching. He foresaw an end to corruption in Sindh very soon.

“If governor rule or martial law is imposed, it will be because of our own deeds,” he said.

Earlier, Sukkur Development Alliance chairperson Jawed Memon spoke about how this movement started a few months ago. It is aimed at getting the attention of elected representatives towards the grave problems of Sukkur city but so far no heed has been paid, he admitted, adding that their struggle will continue until their demands are met.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 24^th, 2015.