KARACHI: City council praises self, takes time off
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Dec 14: The issue of construction of Diamond Bar island city off the Karachi coast echoed in the City Council session when the Opposition tabled a resolution in the house to discuss the sensitive issue, but the treasury sidetracked it and submitted its own agenda.
The resolution moved by the Opposition members expressed concern over the sale of two islands and termed the deal against national as well as international rules. The house, however, adopted a unanimous resolution congratulating the Naib Nazim and house members on completion of 50 council sessions in a year, a legal requirement under the SGLO and publication of the city government’s gazette.
Thursday’s session was brief and devoted only to official business for an hour. Initially, it was presided over by Naib Nazim Nasreen Jalil and later by senior presiding officer Masood Mehmood.
When the house resumed its session, Saeed Ghani, Awam Dost Group leader stood up and drew the attention of the house members towards his resolution pertaining to the issue of the twin islands, observing that “the issue being an urgent one is very significant” as it was related to fisherfolk community of the city who have been protesting against the construction of the proposed city because it would affect their livelihood.
The resolution was also backed by Opposition members including those from the Al-Khidmat Group leader, Rafiq Ahmed, Rukhsana Faisal, Ramzan Awan, Shehzad and Mohammad Sharif Awan.
The presiding officer, Nasreen Jalil, deferred the issue, saying she wanted to inform the house members and congratulate them for holding 50 council sessions, a legal requirement under the provisions of the SGLO. On this occasion, she also announced that the first gazette of the city government was also being issued today (Thursday). Thereafter, she asked the senior Presiding officer, Masood Mehmood, to submit the resolution and explain the idea behind publication of the gazette.
An interesting debate took place when treasury members took turns to congratulate themselves on this event. There was thumping of desks whenever a treasury member stood to praise the nazim and naib nazim.
A defiant Opposition was not moved by repeated thumping of desks by the treasury members. They were of the view these were trivial matters. They argued there were more urgent and pressing issues which needed early attention and resolution.
Saeed Ghani said completion of the mandatory 50 days by the house had not been achieved for the first time as the previous council had done the same. He insisted there were public welfare related issues which needed early solution.
Rafiq Ahmed of Al-khidmat Group tried to draw attention of the chair towards his resolution on street crime which he said was on the rise. He regretted that time and again the presiding officers were ignoring their resolutions which was not a good precedent, saying a number of resolutions submitted by the Opposition were lying dormant.
Mr Ahmed said it was good to see the house complete 50 sessions in a year. But more important issues were agitating the mind of the people. He said the question was not how many sessions had been held, but had been done for the welfare of the people. Leader of the Haq Parasat Group, Asif Siddiq, facilitating the house members also praised the role of the naib nazim for conducting the house in a decent manner.
Opposition members Abdul Razaq Khan, Raheed Beg and Shah Jehan Baloch however, lauded the house for completing 50 sessions and publication of gazette.
When the presiding officer put the resolution to vote, the house passed the resolution unanimously. Thereupon the Opposition leaders stood up and stressed that the resolution on the twin islands and other issues be presented for debate but the house was adjourned to meet again on December 20.
