KARACHI, March 12: City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal defending his decision of banning all kinds of graffiti in the metropolis has observed that the ban is not against any political or religious party but is actually aimed at keeping the city clean.

He stated this while addressing a meeting of Ulema Ahle Sunnat held here on Wednesday to finalise the arrangements of Eid Milad-un-Nabi (PBUH).

However, the nazim was expressed surprise when one of the participants of the meeting demanded relaxation of the ban on graffiti till the 12th of Rabi-ul-Awwal. Without promising to relax the ban, he said: “I leave this matter to you (Ulema) whether you want a clean city or not”.

He pointed out that he wanted to prevent the metropolis from wearing an ugly look with commercial wall-chalking and made it clear that the ban was not targeted against any political or religious outfit.

Mr Kamal appealed to all parties, including the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, to remove their wall-chalking in order to give a tidy look to the streets and thoroughfares.

Some participants of the meeting requested the nazim to reinforce law-enforcers detailed for security duties during the celebrations. Assuring them that the government would take foolproof security measures, the nazim regretted and said: “I personally feel that such a religious festival should not be observed amid extraordinary security as we are living in Pakistan and not in a non-Muslim state.” Interestingly, none of the Ulema raised voice for any of the civic issues plaguing the city except for the performance of the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation which came under fire at the meeting.

The nazim informed them that the city government and the town administrations had made elaborate arrangements for the processions on the occasion of Eid Milad-un-Nabi (PBUH). He claimed that after a passage of 18 years streetlights were installed on the main M.A. Jinnah Road from Numaish to Merewether Tower, which was the main route of the 12th Rabi-ul-Awwal procession.

Mr Kamal said 99 per cent of the city’s development work had been completed. However, he directed the authorities concerned and the town nazims to stop further development work till the 12th of Rabi-ul-Awwal.