For city's sake: Residents protest the ‘deplorable’ state of Sukkur
Protesters included political workers, civil activists under the aegis of Sukkur Development Alliance
SUKKUR:
Scores of protesters affiliated with various political and religious parties as well as civil society activists, under the aegis of the Sukkur Development Alliance (SDA), staged a demonstration and sit-in at clock tower roundabout on Sunday to vent their frustration against the dilapidated condition of the city.
The charged protesters included workers of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam - Fazl, Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Pakistan, Sunni Tehreek, Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Pakistan Muslim League - Functional (PML-F), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Shehri Ittehad and Sukkur Small Traders association. Headed by the SDA chairperson, Jawed Memon, the participants of the rally held placards and banners and shouted slogans against the elected representatives and bureaucrats as they marched from Ghosia Mosque to Clock Tower roundabout, where they staged a sit-in.
JSQM Sukkur chapter president Ghulam Mustafa Phulpoto held the elected representatives and bureaucrats responsible for the deplorable state of the city. He said that all the roads were broken and the overflowing sewage had made the lives of residents miserable. Phulpoto claimed that development schemes were being carried out in small cities and towns of Sindh, but Sukkur, which was the third largest city of Sindh, was being neglected by its own elected representatives and bureaucrats.
Safia Baloch of the PML-F lashed out at the MNAs and MPAs, claiming they were leading luxurious lives and despite spending billions of rupees on development schemes, the fate of Sukkur had remained unchanged. Speaking about the mushrooming encroachments and huge traffic jams, she said that on the one hand, the condition of the roads was very bad, while on the other, encroachments were adding to the miseries of the people.
MQM MPA Saleem Bandhani, expressing helplessness, said that he had been elected as an MPA in 2013 and despite repeated requests, he had not been given the MPA fund. "I have also requested the Sindh chief minister to visit Sukkur and see its condition but he does not have the time," said Bandhani. "No doubt the elected representatives and bureaucracy is responsible for the poor condition of the city and they should be made accountable," he said. He assured the SDA of his full cooperation in its protest movement, adding that he and his party will fully cooperate if the SDA resorts to strikes.
For his part, the SDA chairperson Jawed Memon claimed that over the past few years, Rs22 billion had been spent in the name of mega projects but, instead of improving, the city had been turned into ruins. "At the time of elections, these elected representatives claim they will transform Sukkur into Paris," he said. "After the elections, however, they don't have the time to cast a look on this 'Paris'." Contracts of development schemes are being awarded on favouritism and nepotism and the contractors can do as they like after giving commission to their bosses, he alleged.
Memon warned that the protests were against the elected representatives and bureaucrats and if they failed to address their concerns, the SDA will stage sit-ins outside their residences and offices. "If this too does not work, our protest movement will continue until the condition of Sukkur is not taken care of," he added. "As a last resort, we will go for a shutter-down strike." He expressed hope that all political parties and civil activists will support the SDA in the cause.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 15th, 2014.
Scores of protesters affiliated with various political and religious parties as well as civil society activists, under the aegis of the Sukkur Development Alliance (SDA), staged a demonstration and sit-in at clock tower roundabout on Sunday to vent their frustration against the dilapidated condition of the city.
The charged protesters included workers of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam - Fazl, Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Pakistan, Sunni Tehreek, Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Pakistan Muslim League - Functional (PML-F), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Shehri Ittehad and Sukkur Small Traders association. Headed by the SDA chairperson, Jawed Memon, the participants of the rally held placards and banners and shouted slogans against the elected representatives and bureaucrats as they marched from Ghosia Mosque to Clock Tower roundabout, where they staged a sit-in.
JSQM Sukkur chapter president Ghulam Mustafa Phulpoto held the elected representatives and bureaucrats responsible for the deplorable state of the city. He said that all the roads were broken and the overflowing sewage had made the lives of residents miserable. Phulpoto claimed that development schemes were being carried out in small cities and towns of Sindh, but Sukkur, which was the third largest city of Sindh, was being neglected by its own elected representatives and bureaucrats.
Safia Baloch of the PML-F lashed out at the MNAs and MPAs, claiming they were leading luxurious lives and despite spending billions of rupees on development schemes, the fate of Sukkur had remained unchanged. Speaking about the mushrooming encroachments and huge traffic jams, she said that on the one hand, the condition of the roads was very bad, while on the other, encroachments were adding to the miseries of the people.
MQM MPA Saleem Bandhani, expressing helplessness, said that he had been elected as an MPA in 2013 and despite repeated requests, he had not been given the MPA fund. "I have also requested the Sindh chief minister to visit Sukkur and see its condition but he does not have the time," said Bandhani. "No doubt the elected representatives and bureaucracy is responsible for the poor condition of the city and they should be made accountable," he said. He assured the SDA of his full cooperation in its protest movement, adding that he and his party will fully cooperate if the SDA resorts to strikes.
For his part, the SDA chairperson Jawed Memon claimed that over the past few years, Rs22 billion had been spent in the name of mega projects but, instead of improving, the city had been turned into ruins. "At the time of elections, these elected representatives claim they will transform Sukkur into Paris," he said. "After the elections, however, they don't have the time to cast a look on this 'Paris'." Contracts of development schemes are being awarded on favouritism and nepotism and the contractors can do as they like after giving commission to their bosses, he alleged.
Memon warned that the protests were against the elected representatives and bureaucrats and if they failed to address their concerns, the SDA will stage sit-ins outside their residences and offices. "If this too does not work, our protest movement will continue until the condition of Sukkur is not taken care of," he added. "As a last resort, we will go for a shutter-down strike." He expressed hope that all political parties and civil activists will support the SDA in the cause.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 15th, 2014.