KARACHI: Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab has come out strongly against opposition criticism, rejecting allegations of poor performance by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB) during Eidul Azha.

In a media talk, Barrister Wahab described the claims made by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Jamaat-i-Islami as “baseless and politically motivated,” asserting that the Sindh government and relevant authorities had made robust arrangements for cleanliness during Eid holiday.

“We had established 93 collection points and dug huge trenches across Karachi for the proper disposal of animal waste. The SSWMB was fully operational during all three days of Eid,” he said.

Responding directly to the MQM-P’s accusations, the mayor said the party had no moral standing to criticise civic governance in Karachi, pointing to its controversial political past. “Those who introduced the culture of fear, extortion, gutka and mawa in Karachi now pretend to be the city’s saviours. The people of this city have not forgotten that,” he said.

He acknowledged that while some areas may have experienced delays due to logistical challenges, the overall operation remained efficient.

“Managing a megacity like Karachi, especially during a festival like Eid, is no small task. But our teams were on the ground, working round the clock,” he said. “Those sitting in air-conditioned rooms, holding press conferences, are lying and misleading the people. Our KMC and SSWMB staff are working tirelessly in the heat to serve Karachi. It’s shameful how easily political opponents ignore ground realities.”

Highlighting the ongoing development under the PPP-led administration, Barrister Wahab said that his administration is committed to rebuilding Karachi with better roads, parks, and public services. The opposition is only interested in point-scoring. He also urged political opponents to contribute constructively rather than resorting to blame games.

“Let’s work together to improve the city instead of misleading the public with outdated narratives,” he added.

Published in Dawn, June 10th, 2025