KARACHI, Oct 22: Sindh minister for revenue and political affairs Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh has opposed the process of regularization of kutchi abadis initiated by the City Nazim, Naimatullah Khan, in Karachi's urban areas, and termed it "politically motivated".

"I have written to the chief minister and he would approach the nazim to stop this process. "We want formation of a committee to verify the matter properly and only then leases would be issued to eligible localities," he said.

"I have received complaints from different groups regarding the recently initiated lease process in the city and it is nothing but a political manoeuvring to gain seats in the next local bodies elections," Mr Shaikh said.

"It is a sensitive matter and I will also ask the minister for local bodies to take an action in this regard," he said. The revenue ministry has already started a move to give leases to 26,000 villages throughout Sindh, including Karachi.

In this regard, the department has conducted a comprehensive survey and these villages will be regularized in the process. "Initially, we are starting from Hyderabad district and the chief minister will inaugurate the programme soon," he said. Talking about Karachi, the minister said, "I will personally pay visits to villages to verify the situation." -PPI