• Members demand arrest of killers of slain PPP union committee chairman
• Mayor forms body to deal with worsening law and order

KARACHI: The City Council on Thursday echoed with concerns of members from both sides of the aisle over deteriorating law and order situation in the city while Mayor Murtaza Wahab agreed to a proposal forwarded by some members to form a committee to deal with the increasing street crimes.

The general meeting of the council of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), held at its Council Hall, offered prayers for UC Chairman Sabir Ali Magsi of the Pakistan Peoples Party from Malir District, who was killed in Gulistan-i-Johar as well as for Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) member Parveen Murad Baloch.

Through two identical resolutions presented in the meeting, it was demanded that the murderers of slain PPP UC chairman be arrested as soon as possible and punished. The resolutions were tabled by PPP’s Advocate Irshad Ali and Qazi Sadruddin of Jamat-i-Islami (JI), who also spoke on the resolutions.

Other members who expressed their views on the resolutions included PPP Parliamentary Leader Syed Najmi Alam, JI Parliamentary Leader Advocate Saifuddin and Asad Aman.

The speakers condemned the brutal killing of Sabir Ali Magsi in strong words and expressed heartfelt sorrow and grief on behalf of all the members of the council. They demanded from the law enforcement agencies to arrest the killers of Magsi as soon as possible. Both resolutions were passed unanimously.

During the discussion on the resolutions, the members expressed grave concern over the increasing street crimes in the city. They proposed that a committee consisting of council members be made to deal with the increasing street crimes in Karachi.

They also suggested that the proposed committee should discuss with the inspector general of police the crime situation in the city.

The mayor welcomed the proposal and said that a committee consisting of members of the House would be formed which would meet IG Sindh.

He said every political party would be represented in the committee to inform the law enforcement agencies about the crime situation in Karachi and to urge for immediate steps in this regard.

The mayor said that the proceedings of today’s meeting of the city were held in a good manner and hoped that this would continue in the future sessions of the council so that the members of this council could provide relief to the citizens of Karachi from various problems.

Murtaza Wahab said that according to the tradition of the City Council, the meeting of the council was postponed after the death of a member. “So today’s meeting is also postponed, and the next meeting will be held on March 8,” he concluded.

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2024