KARACHI, Jan 7: The city council has opposed the removal of Orangi Town Nazim Shahid Alam alias Gudu Behari and termed this act illegal and unconstitutional aimed at sabotaging local bodies system.

The city council session, presided over by Muslim Pervez, severely criticized provincial government for creating hurdles in the development work in city by taking illegal steps.

The session, called to debate on lease rates for kutchi abadies, discussed most of the time the problems being faced by local bodies members in development works and the removal of Town Nazim Orangi.

Leader of Awam Dost Panel Saeed Ghani said that the provincial government had no powers to remove city, town or union council nazim in any way and termed the removal of Orangi Town Nazim "politically motivated and vindictive act."

He referred to Sindh Law Secretary's letter, which clearly stated that Sindh government enjoyed no such powers to suspend a nazim and appoint another in his place.

"Removal of Orangi Town Nazim under Section 197 is a clear violation of Sindh Local Government Ordinance, 2001. The elected representatives of local system could not be barred from holding public offices under this section," he pointed out.-PPI