PPP councillors in Tando Jam demand audit

Accuse committee chairperson of embezzlement, warn of tendering resignations if their demand is not met

HYDERABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party's councillors in Municipal Committee Tandojam, Hyderabad, have revolted against their own party's chairperson, demanding an independent audit of expenditures and warning of en masse resignations in case demand is not met. The

Councillors Ramzan Burfat, Prabhu Lal Nainwani, Ramzan Burfat, Mehmood Saraz, Ghulam Nabi Magsi, Wajahat Ali Channa, Naheed Laghari and others convened a meeting at the committee office on Wednesday to discuss the matter. A team of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan's councillors, led by Rao Imran Ahmed and Sher Muhammad, also attended the meeting.

Tando Jam, which is home to Sindh's largest agriculture university, is a semi-rural town in Hyderabad. The town has not seen development for years. Over the years, several complaints have been made regarding the town's damaged roads, improper drainage system, lack of cleanliness and water supply.

Councillors of PPP have accused the committee's chairperson, Mir Khan Muhammad Talpur, for allegedly embezzling funds. "When he went on a long leave, we turned the town into a clean place," claimed Nainwani. He added that whenever they make demands for maintaining cleanliness and carrying out development work in the town, they are subjected to harassment.

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"The committee's budget session was supposed to be held in August [this year], but the chairperson hasn't called any session to pass the budget," the councillors claimed. They alleged that the chairperson has been embezzling funds allocation by awarding contracts on the basis of "favouritism."

"The chairman has created new records of corruption during the past four years," alleged Channa, adding that Talpur does not even attend committee's meetings, fearing a raid by the Anti-Corruption Establishment.

Meanwhile, MQM-P's Rao blamed the chairperson of neglecting the upkeep of the town.

The councillors from PPP gave a 48-hour ultimatum to the party's leadership to take action against the committee's chairperson and take steps for conducting an audit, after which they threatened of tendering resignations. Though, MQM-P's councillors said they will decide about handing in resignations after consulting with the party.