KARACHI, Oct 23: Rowdy scenes on Wednesday marred the proceedings of the city council, when around two dozen people belonging to water-starved localities of Orangi Town entered the Shamiana where the council was in session.

The council’s meeting was being held under the Shamiana erected on the lawns of the Naib Nazim’s secretariat (former KMC head office building), for the council hall is being renovated.

The protesters, who had assembled outside the Naib Nazim’s secretariat building to protest against the non-availability of water in their localities, entered the venue of the session along with some elected representatives of Orangi Town, raising slogans against KWSB officials for not resolving the water issue.

As soon as the council began its proceedings, Muslim Pervaiz, presiding over the session in the absence of convener Tariq Hassan, suspended the proceedings for half an hour to express solidarity with Nazims, Naib Nazims and others who had gathered outside the Shamiana to express resentment.

Shortly after suspending the session, the presiding officer met the protesters and their elected representatives and informed them that the KWSB, after being devolved to the city government and town administrations, had become the water and sewerage wing of the city government.

Mr Pervaiz also informed the elected representatives belonging to Orangi Town that the KWSB’s senior official, Asudomal, who is currently holding the additional charge of chief engineer (Water), was present in the house to answer the queries of the council members concerning the water shortage problems of their localities.

He clarified that it was the responsibility of Town Nazims to express their point of view concerning the problems of their towns on appropriate forums and the council would raise the water issue

The council resumed its session to discuss and set up a 9-member standing committee of the house for scrutinising and checking the questions and resolutions of the house prior to their submission to the council.

But its proceedings were again disrupted when some elected representatives from Orangi Town stormed into the venue of the council session and raised slogans against the officials of the KWSB, accusing them of not taking any interest in the matter.

Amid the throaty slogans of the representatives of Orangi Town who were lashing out at KWSB officials, the presiding officer had to adjourn the house till Thursday.

Some members of the house deplored the incident saying such an act was uncalled for as a responsible officer of the water and sewerage wing of the city government was already present in the house to reply to the queries pertaining to the water shortage problem.

Earlier some members of the house expressed resentment over the delay in the renovation of the council hall.

The house formed a nine-member committee for scrutinising resolutions before their submission to the council and for ensuring that approved resolutions of the house are implemented in letter and spirit.