HYDERABAD, July 20: The adviser to the Sindh chief minister on local bodies and kutchi abadis, Mr Waseem Akhtar, has said an inquiry against former nazims has begun. Speaking at a demand draft distribution ceremony at the Jinnah Hall of the Taluka Municipal Administration here on Wednesday and later talking to journalists, he said a summary for appointment of officers had been issued with unlimited scope of terms of reference for inquiry officers. He said the terms would be decided by officers concerned on their own to detect misuse of powers and corruption in local governments.

The adviser also inaugurated the MQM labour division office at the City TMA.

He said if charges were proved against the nazims they would not be allowed to contest the local bodies’ elections and if a nazim was elected before evidence was collected against him he would be unseated after the polls.

He said Rs1 billion announced for Hyderabad by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz at a public meeting on July 17 for supply of clean drinking water was in addition to the president’s package and the Sindh government’s special projects of Rs1 billion.

The adviser said he was unaware whether the National Reconstruction Bureau had taken a decision to hold the election for taluka and district nazims on party basis. He said his party would make seat adjustments with coalition partners.

About cancellation of promotions of TMA employees, he said rights of some deserving employees had been prejudiced and that was why the matter was being looked into. He said the MQM was committed to eliminate feudalism in rural areas.

He claimed that the MQM was in firm control of urban areas which was enough for it. But, he added, his party wanted to change the system which was possible only through legislation and legislation needed two-third majority in parliament.

He said the party vote bank in urban areas was intact as it had 42 MPAs, 18 MNAs and eight senators. “We can change the system in urban areas whenever we like but the question relates to problems of people in rural areas,” he claimed.

Man held: The Market police arrested a man, Bashir Mallah alias Shabbir Mallah, for possessing 10 kilograms of explosive material at the OPD Chowk on Tuesday night.

The accused was booked under section 5 of the Explosive Substance Act. Police said he was allegedly linked with a nationalist organization and it was being verified.