KARACHI, April 22: The Muttahida Council for Affected People has urged the military government to leave the fate of Lyari Expressway Project to the future civilian government which will be formed as a result of the October elections.

A spokesman for the council, Tariq Aziz Hoat, said the execution of the project was “delayed due to non-serious attitude of the NHA.”

He said the president was expected to lay the foundation of the project on March 23, but the ceremony was deferred due to conflicting views.

Talking to newsmen, he held the National Highway Authority responsible for this, saying the project could have been smoothly implemented if the original plan was put into operation.

He suggested that a state of uncertainty existed among the people as a result of fear of large-scale dislocation which would result from the proposed NHA plan.

To a question, he said the council, comprising all segments of affected people living on the banks of Lyari River aimed at preventing large-scale dislocation of residential units, will strive for seeking proper compensation for uprooted people.

He said the representatives of the council held various meetings with the relevant authorities, including City Nazim, DCO and NHA officials and exchanged views with them on the consequences of the revised NHA plan which he termed “highly dangerous for old settlements”.

He claimed the council agreed on a proposal of a joint consultant meeting on both sides to discuss the technicalities of the project. But he regretted that no meeting could be held so far and there was a complete chaos and anarchy.

Under these circumstances, the council is left with no choice but to continue its mass mobilisation campaign, he said and urged the government to leave the matter to the future civilian government.