First meeting of city council descends into chaos

PPP, JI members exchange barbs, chant slogans against each other

KARACHI:

The first meeting of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) City Council descended into chaos with opposition and treasury benches chanting slogans against each other, hooting and exchange of verbal barbs.

The maiden meeting of the newly-formed city government lasted for 40 minutes and was adjourned indefinitely. The meeting of the elected local government leadership was held after a pause of three years.

Mayor Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui arrived in the Council Hall with full regalia of lord mayor dressed in the tradition robe and escorted by attendants in uniform.

The opposition Union Council members greeted Wahab with slogans like mandate thief, selected mayor.

Among Pakistan Peoples Party and Jamamt-e-Islami (JI) the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Union Council members stood divided. Some PTI UC members were sitting with PPP and others with JI.

The commotion continued during the recitation of Holy Quran and Naat. When Wahab started his speech, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) opposition groups shouted slogans. JI and PTI UC members kept shouting "it's a lie, it's a lie," on whatever Wahab said during his speech.

Meanwhile, the mayor gave the microphone to PTI government bench member Asad Aman for a speech. The PTI opposition group attacked him and attempted to snatch the mike. A scuffle started between the two groups when the mike was snatched. However, the two groups were separated during this time.

When JI Karachi chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman was invited to address the meeting, the government bench shouted slogans on it. Rehman could not finish his speech and then his mike was switched off. Meanwhile, fierce sloganeering started between the government and the opposition. Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab postponed the council meeting for an indefinite period.

The meeting was attended by JI and PTI opposition groups with full preparation. They brought banners and placards in their hands and as soon as the meeting started, loud slogans were started, but in the meantime, the government bench had approved three resolutions. Due to the tension in the council hall, the police force was also called.

However, after the meeting ended, JI's Rahman and PPP leader Najmi Alam dispersed peacefully after talking to the media.

Mayor calls for collective approach

Talking to the media at Frere Hall, Mayor Wahab said that he wanted to conduct the proceedings of the first meeting of the city council with mutual understanding so that the problems of Karachi can be solved, but the opposition has proved that on one side is the development, prosperity and political maturity of Karachi and on the other side is Hafiz Naeemur Rahman.

Jamaat-e-Islami's opposition to the resolution condemning the desecration of the Holy Quran in Sweden is very regrettable. "If they allowed me, I would have told the city council that we are doing water and sewerage works in Karachi at a cost of 1.6 billion dollars and development works are going on vigorously to improve the infrastructure in different areas of the city," he said.

"Once again, I invite Jamaat-e-Islami to end the politics of differences and adopt a constructive way of thinking and join hands with us in the construction and development of the city," Wahab said.

Deputy Mayor Karachi Salman Abdullah Murad, Secretary General of PPP South District Karamullah Waqasi and other elected representatives and officers were also present.

Naeem's media talk

JI Karachi Ameer Engr Hafiz Naeemur Rehman made it clear that the just  demands can't be suppressed by muting mikes in the city council.

He said that at one hand the PPP snatches the mandate, mutes voices and on the other it asks for a consensus to be developed. It can't happen in this way, he said, adding that it seems that the PPP takes Karachi just as an opportunity to plunder resources.

The PPP also wants the DMCs to approve the budget for towns and the ruling regime was also reluctant to devolve powers to union councils, he added.

It should be a matter of grave shame and concern for the PPP that it was ruling over the province for over the past 15 years and Karachi has been tagged as one of the worst cities in the world.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 18^th, 2023.