KARACHI, Aug 1: The officers and workers of the water and sanitation department of the City government attended to their duties on Friday despite a tense atmosphere created by a physical assault on the acting chief of the department.
There were rumours of protest by the workers in the morning but the day passed off peacefully.
During a meeting on Thursday, the EDO (Works) Brig Zaheer Quadri, and the acting chief of the W&S department, Mr Suleman Chandio, indulged in arguments over the transfer of sewerage system in Scheme-33 to the department and exchanged some harsh words. Brig Quadri, as soon as the meeting concluded, subjected Mr Chandio to physical assault causing fracture in his nose and serious injuries to his jaw. The W&S workers reacted angrily and ransacked the office of the EDO. The attack cost Brig Quadri his service as City Nazim, Naimatullah Khan, ordered his dismissal with immediate effect. The city Nazim’s timely action, coupled with patience demonstrated by Mr Chandio, helped contain tension and all the employees resumed normal office work on Friday. Routine activities in other departments also remained as usual.
The City Nazim told Dawn that the services of Brig Quadri had been terminated by him and a letter to this effect sent to the provincial chief secretary, Dr Mutawakkil Qazi.
When asked whether the W&S department employees were observing or planning to observe a strike, he termed such reports ‘baseless’ saying that the rumours were being spread by vested interests who were trying to make gains from the situation. He said that Mr Chandio, who exercized restraint and demonstrated a civilized attitude, had foiled attempts by certain elements to create tension and confusion.
He pointed out that the entire city government machinery was being mobilized to launching a cleanliness campaign in the city from August 4.
The Nazim said that campaign and all other efforts by the city government were aimed at giving the city a new look by the upcoming Independence Day. “During the campaign, all the garbage and mud will be lifted from each and every road and street. The arteries damaged by rainwater require reconstruction, immediate repair or patch work.”
The sacked EDO, Brig Zaheer Qadri, had tendered his resignation from the post in July but the was not accepted by the city Nazim, adds PPI.
According to sources, the resignation was referred to the provincial chief secretary through the DCO and the city Nazim on July 12 but the latter wanted the brigadier to retain the job.
Since Brig Quadri’s contract was valid up to Jan 2004, there was speculation that he might be offered the post of the EDO of Water Board as the MD of KWSB, Javed Ashraf, had already resigned from his post.
The speculation was not welcomed in KWSB which is presently working in a limbo. Though it has physically been devolved to the city government, the Act governing the institution is yet to be repealed by the Sindh Assembly.
While the city government officials used to refer to the chief of water board as ‘EDO Water and Sewerage’, Brig Javed Ashraf calls himself as ‘MD of Water and Sewerage Board’.
Presently, Brig Ashraf is on an official visit to China and the deputy MD, Suleman Chandio, is the acting MD of the KWSB.
According to a law department official, the district Nazim does not have the authority to terminate the services of an EDO whose contract has been signed by the provincial government.
However, after Thursday’s ugly incident, not only the resignation of Brig Qadri has been accepted, but Brig Javed Ashraf also may not face much resistance in getting his resignation accepted.