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| July 6, 2005 | Wednesday | Jumadi-ul-Awwal 28, 1426 |
‘MQM ministers thwarting development’
LAHORE, July 5: Former Karachi city government Nazim Naimatullah Khan alleges that MQM ministers have been a big hurdle in the execution of his development projects. Replying to a question at a press conference here on Tuesday, he said the MQM ministers exhausted their energies in opposing the projects as besides physical intervention funds were also blocked only because the projects were being executed by the person who belonged to the Jamaat-i-Islami.
“They do not want to give credit to the Jamaat.”
Mr Khan is currently on a detailed visit to Punjab and the NWFP provinces after being relieved as the Karachi nazim on June 30.
Blaming the ethnic group for the law and order situation in the city, he said it could not contest elections without indulging in killings.
“They want to harass voters for confining them to their homes,” he said and claimed that his rivals were troubled over his four-year performance which had overshadowed the works done even during the past 57 years.
Mentioning various projects and policies he had initiated in sewerage and water supply, education, health, transport and communication sectors, he said the provincial government did not devolve all the departments, taking refuge under some laws, to prevent his control on them.
Defending his statements in favour of Gen Musharraf, he said the army ruler too had been supporting and praising his performance.
He, however, made it clear that he had openly opposed the army general in the presidential referendum defying all pressure from the governor, chief minister, chief secretary and even the corps commander.
“I was threatened with removal from office but I did not give in and offered to resign by myself.”
Asked if he expected Gen Musharraf’s help in his re-election as nazim, he said no. However, he hoped that the ruler would ensure fair and free polling process, believing that Karachiites would re-elect him keeping his services in view.
Mr Khan regretted that Karachi is the city where a sense of belonging did not prevail. “In Lahore, the governor, the chief minister and the nazim would say that it is their city but it is not the case with Karachi.”
Jamaat Deputy Secretary-General Malik Ashraf Awan and Lahore Amir Hafiz Salman Butt were also present on the occasion.
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