KARACHI, Sept 13: The MQM coordination committee would decide about the Haq Parast candidate for the slot of nazim of the City District Government of Karachi. This was stated by Advisor to Sindh Chief Minister on Local Government and one of the four nominees of the HPG for the top-slot, Waseem Akhtar, while responding to a question at a news conference on Tuesday.

M A Jaleel and Mustafa Kamal, the other two nominees were also present while the fourth nominee, Federal Minister Babar Ghori, had flown back to Islamabad after filing nomination papers.

The focus of Mr Akhtar’s news conference was the devastating impact of last week’s rains on roads and other civic infrastructure.

His contention was that problems of the people had compounded because of excavated roads, oozing sewers and heap of filth, which according to Mr Akhtar, reflected the incompetence of the previous CDGK.

He said that the excavated roads were causing traffic jams. The rains, he said, had exposed tall claims of the past CDGK. All those who had earlier termed the MQM’s criticism of the city government as political difference were now supporting its contention.

He said that because of digging of 17 important roads, commuting in the city has became a nightmare due to prolonged traffic jams. Many roads, developed by former CDGK, could not brave the monsoon and caved in or were washed away.

Mr Akhtar alleged that these problems occurred because the previous city government did not opt for a correct strategy and did not focus on garbage collection and cleanliness.

He was supported by his two other colleagues present on the occasion that the former City District Government, led by Naimatullah Khan, had squandered Rs129 billion funds on development of superficial projects, which were washed away in the recent rains.

Assuring the Karachiites of a positive approach by the next elected CDGK, Mr Waseem Akhtar said the MQM-backed City District administration was to emphasize on better utilization of funds.

“We won’t be simply repairing already built roads, our government would provide alternatove routes to Karachiites, he added.

The MQM nominees appealed to the President and the Prime Minister to take notice of the damage caused to infrastructure by rains in the city and those responsible for the mess be made accountable.