KARACHI, Aug 2: The City Council on Monday reacted to the summoning of the City Nazim by the Sindh Local Government Commission. In its meeting, presided over by senior presiding officer Muslim Pervez, the members also criticized the freezing of accounts of union councils.

A council member, Saeed Ghani, speaking on the occasion said that since the Nazim had been asked to appear before the commission, the issue be considered in detail. Muslim Pervez informed the house that DO Land Najmuddin Sikandar had been invited to the session to present the report on the matter.

Later, the district officer informed the House that the land in question was rented out to Americano on annual rental basis by the KMC's estate department. However, later the agreement was nullified as the company became a defaulter. Upon this, the company filed a suit in the Sindh High Court.

After hearing of the suit, the high court in its verdict directed that the questioned land be auctioned on a 99-year lease whereafter advertisements were published in newspapers and on May 22, a bid of Rs 57.572 million was received on May 22, 2003.

The auction was participated by six parties and the higher bidder was allotted land and all these facts are available on record. The DO said that after the high court verdict, no party went to the Supreme Court.

When the members questioned whether a nullah land can be leased out for 99 years or not, the DO informed the house that there are many examples in this regard. He said Bahadur Shah Zafar market is constructed on a nullah while the nullah flowing by the side of Shaheen Complex has been turned into a car parking.

Meanwhile, Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal legislators in Sindh have criticized the recent statements of adviser to Sindh chief minister Wasim Akhtar. They said that the City Nazim was being punished due to his down to dusk services for the people of Karachi.

They said that the adviser wanted to a create law and order problem in the city and was creating hurdles to the way of elected Nazims which was an attempt to foil the district government system.

Criticizing fake cases on Town Nazims Shahid Alam alias Guddo Behari and Dr Pervez Mehmood, they said that the Town Nazim Ghulshan-i-Iqbal and other UC Nazims were being targeted now, which was a conspiracy against the citizens of Karachi.

They appreciated the City Nazim's efforts stating in the leadership of Naimatullah Khan, the city government had shown great performance within limited resources and ongoing uplifting projects throughout the city could be witnessed in this regard. -PPI