0
KARACHI, Sept 18: In a unanimously adopted resolution, the City Council on Thursday condemned the US and other allied forces’ aggression against peaceful and innocent people, including women and children, in Bajaur, Miramshah and other tribal areas of Pakistan.
Moved jointly by all opposition groups in the house, the resolution described the US air attacks as “undue intervention and an attack against the integrity of Pakistan and flagrant violation of international laws.”
Appreciating the stand taken by the chief of the army staff, the resolution also supported the policy of the government, saying that it fully reflected the sentiments of the nation.
It also warned the allied forces to stop their brutal actions in the tribal areas, adding that the people of Pakistan would fully support the armed forces and the government in safeguarding the territorial integrity of the country.
The resolution also urged the government to immediately halt the military operation in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and other regions and adopt a course of dialogue for resolving the issue.
Interestingly, when Convener Nasreen Jalil tabled the resolution for debate, the treasury members did not oppose it and it was consequently adopted unanimously.
Earlier, in support of the resolution, Al-Khidmat group leader Rafiq Ahmed slammed the US armed action in Fata and other tribal areas in Pakistan and termed it an attack on the integrity of the country. He fully supported the stand taken by the Pakistan army chief and the government on the issue, saying that the nation stood behind the armed forces and the government.
Earlier, when the house resumed its session, treasury leader Asif Siddiqui stood up on a point of order and drew the attention of the convener towards a treasury resolution on the Karachi Electric Supply Company issue demanding that the city nazim be nominated as a member in the governing body of the utility company.
Mr Siddiqui informed the house that the city nazim had recently held a detailed meeting on the electricity crisis with the federal minister for power, which was also attended by the governor of Sindh. According to him, a technical committee had been constituted to identify the faults in the system and suggest ways to improve it.
He argued that being a member of the KESC governing body, the city nazim could play an effective role in overcoming the power crisis in the city as he was fully aware of the grievances of the people and sensitivity of the situation.
A heated debate took place between the treasury and opposition members on the nomination of the city nazim in the KESC governing body.
Upon this, the convener intervened and told the members to take up the house agenda regarding administrative changes in Gulshan Town, which was submitted in the previous session.Apart from the KESC, she also pointed out that there were other important resolutions, including the presidential election and the issue of live burial of five women in Balochistan.
Later, the house, through a unanimous resolution, felicitated Asif Zardari on his election as president of Pakistan. Welcoming Mr Zardari as president, Masood Mehmud said it would have been better if a joint resolution was submitted in the house.
The treasury leader expressed his hope that Mr Zardari would continue to uphold the policy of reconciliation and work for the betterment of the people.
Burial of women
The house also took up the resolution submitted by opposition woman councillor Mumtaz Shamim Wasih on the live burial of five women in Balochistan. The resolution condemned the atrocities being committed against women in the name of honour and urged the government to take action against those who were responsible for such heinous crimes.
Earlier, initiating the debate, the opposition councillor argued that such things were neither allowed in Islam nor in any other religion and therefore, the government should take severe action against the perpetrators of such crimes.
She stunned the house when she informed the members that recently, a graveyard was discovered in Sindh where 30 bodies of ‘Kari’ women were unearthed. Despite this, she said, no action had been taken only because the victims were women. She called for justice and equal treatment for women.
The opposition councillor was supported by treasury councillor Dr Nikhat Shakeel. Taking part in the debate, another opposition councillor, Mehrunissa Baloch, held the feudal system responsible for the atrocity.
Leader of the house Asif Siddiqui said his party chief had always raised a voice against injustices being committed against women, saying that there could be no two views on the issue.
Al-Khidmat leader Rafiq Ahmed also supported the resolution, which was later adopted unanimously by the house.
Thereafter, the house took up the resolution nominating the city nazim in the KESC’s governing body.
‘Dual policy’
Opposition leaders, including Saeed Ghani and Rafiq Ahmed, attacked the dual policy of the treasury on the KESC, saying that they had previously supported the utility’s privatization while the opposition had vehemently opposed it.
They questioned the logic behind the nomination of the city nazim in the governing body. However, on the suggestion of leader of the opposition Saeed Ghani, an amendment was made in the original resolution wherein the name of Naib Nazim Nasreen Jalil was also included along with the city nazim.
The resolution – adopted unanimously – expressed its concern over the long duration of unscheduled load-shedding, which had badly affected the life of the common man.
It noted with concern that the ever-deepening power crisis affected every segment of the population, forcing people in many parts of the city to stage protests.
In view of the grave situation being faced by the people in the city, the resolution urged that – as was the practice in the past when the mayor of Karachi was made a member of the KESC’s governing body – the present city nazim and naib nazim be appointed as members of the KESC governing body so that immediate steps could be taken for the resolution of the power crisis and providing relief to the people.
The debate on the agenda of Gulshan Town was deferred till the next meeting. The house will now meet on Saturday (Sept 20) at 12pm.
