KARACHI, Feb 4: The City Council on Saturday unanimously condemned the publication of derogatory caricatures in newspapers of European countries and demanded of the government to summon the ambassadors of the concerned countries to register an official protest.

The formal proceedings of the first City Council session kicked off smoothly with Naib Nazim Karachi Nasreen Jalil in the chair.

Similar resolutions had also been adopted by the Senate, National Assembly and the Sindh Assembly flaying western newspapers.

It also adopted a number of other resolutions including one expressing sorrow and grief over the demise of veteran politician Khan Abdul Wali Khan and another asking the government to ensure proper rehabilitation of the affectees of last year’s earthquake.

The session also expressed sorrow over the sinking of a ferry in Egypt, in which some 1,000 persons including pilgrims lost their lives.

Speaking on a point of order, Zahid Saeed, Nazim UC-7, Jamshed Town said some people were pressurizing the city government to end its drive against billboards. He feared these steps would subsequently reduce funding for union councils.

Other adopted resolutions were on the number of City Council’s watchdog committees, its members and their appointment procedure, method for appointment of presiding officers and number of members and their appointment procedure in the Ethics, Insaf, Sports & Culture, Account and Farm Produce Market committees.

The session was conducted in a smooth manner, which was lauded by both the treasury and opposition benchers.—PPI