KARACHI: Violation of all rules for use of parks continues
KARACHI, Dec 27: Contrary to the clear-cut orders of the city nazim, Mustafa Kamal, commercial use of public parks, especially for wedding ceremonies continues unabated depriving the citizens of one of the few recreational facilities in the city. A survey conducted by Online suggests that the phenomenon is continuing in connivance with the concerned UC nazims, area police and the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC).
Citizens complain that following the ongoing wedding season in the city, ceremonies were being held at various public parks with the permission of the concerned UC nazims every alternative day.
The wedding ceremonies, which last by midnight, and coupled with heavy aerial firing, have virtually made the life of citizens, particularly elderly people and patients miserable.
Though, Sindh Home Minister Rauf Siddiqui has issued strict orders for action against those involved in aerial firing, however, citizens say, aerial firing at wedding ceremonies in different areas have become an order of the day as the area police do not take any action against them.
Residents of the Liaquatabad Town said that several people, including the organizers had been injured in incidents of aerial firing, but the police personnel detailed nearby the parks remained unmoved.
Kunda system is used for lavish lightings at these ceremonies, not merely causing heavy losses to the KESC but also causing power breakdowns in different areas.
Citizens complained that power breakdowns in their respective areas had become a routine affair, as extra load, directly acquired from the KESC system, was required for lighting at the wedding and other related functions. “Despite timely complaints, the KESC staff never reach the venue and take action against the organizers of such events at the public parks”, a resident of the Gulberg Town said.
He alleged that the KESC staff against a sum of Rs1,000 to 2,000 allowed the organizers to use kunda which resulted in overloading of the transformers and wire snapping.
During the survey, residents of North Nazimabad Town charged that several complaints had been lodged with the respective police stations and KESC centres about aerial firing, and use of kunda system but no action had been taken against the perpetrators.
A resident of North Nazimabad, Block-P, informed that weekly three to four wedding ceremonies were being held at Bagh-i-Batool, a park in the vicinity, in connivance with the concerned UC nazim and the area police.
He also accused the area police of taking bribes for allowing aerial firing.
Tariq Mehmood, who dwells near Bagh-i-Syedi in the same block, said the UC Nazim Pervaiz Wali issued permission for wedding and other ceremonies at the park despite protest of the area residents.
“This is the only park where we can walk, and children can play, but we are unable to enter the park for the last two months due to these ceremonies”, he further added.—Online
