Elected representatives have turned Sukkur into Moen Jo Daro, SDA chairperson

Residents take to the streets to protest the lack of proper facilities in the city.

SUKKUR: Dozens of the residents, including political activists and traders, observed a token hunger strike at Clock Tower roundabout on Monday to protest the lack of action of the elected representatives who, according to Sukkur Development Alliance chairperson Jawed Memon, are responsible for turning Sukkur into a replica of Moen Jo Daro, where residents are forced to live without civic facilities.

Dozens of citizens carrying placards and banners took to the streets, shouting slogans against elected representatives and bureaucrats. They marched on the main road and reached Clock Tower roundabout, where they observed a token hunger strike.

Speaking to the media, Memon condemned the indifferent attitude of the elected representatives and bureaucrats of Sukkur and claimed that they were responsible for the poor condition of the city, which happens to be the economic hub of upper Sindh and the third largest city of the province. He said the people of Sukkur voted them to power following their promises of providing modern civic facilities to the citizens, but in return they have turned the city into a replica of Moen Jo Daro.



Memon said the residents of Sukkur are braving multiple crises including an acute shortage of water, low gas pressure and prolonged power outages. The residents are also facing bumpy roads, overflowing drains and manholes, a collapsed drainage system, huge traffic jams, mushrooming encroachments and a lack of adequate health and education facilities, he said. Memon added that the elected representatives prefer to pass their time in Islamabad and Karachi rather than solving the citizen's problems.

Accusing the elected representatives and the bureaucracy of massive corruption, he said the government allocated Rs22 billion development funds but, instead of spending the money on the development works, it was pocketed through fake documents. "Our struggle is for just rights of the citizens of Sukkur under the aegis of the Sukkur Development Alliance," Memon said.  In the first phase our token hunger strike will continue for three days and then, if the elected representatives fail to solve the civic problems, we will lay a siege at their houses and offices, he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2015.