THE local bodies elections in Karachi were held almost a year ago, but the fate of this mega city remains unchanged. Instead, the civic problems have increased. One can see choked and broken sewerage lines, and rotting heaps of garbage everywhere.

It not only speaks volumes about the performance of local civic administration and elected representatives, it also makes the Karachiites believe that there is nobody responsible for running the affairs of this city.

When Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar was in prison, he had appealed for a bail so that he could resolve the civic issues. But now after having been bailed out he has done nothing so far but lip-service.

The MQM believes that its elected representatives have not been given powers by the Sindh government to address the civic problems. It is the same MQM which would give a tough time to every government not in public interests but in the interest of the party and its leadership.

Now the same MQM seems to be behaving like a ‘good boy’. If the Karachi mayor, his deputy and other elected representatives think that they are powerless, why don’t they take up the matter with the chief minister and Asif Zardari, or Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, for a solution to the issue?

If the matter of giving them authority is not resolved, they must tender resignation and return to their voters and supporters.

Hassan Afzaal

Karachi

Published in Dawn January 11th, 2017