HYDERABAD: The war of words between the Pak­istan Peoples Party (PPP) and Muttahida Qaumi Mov­e­ment-Pakistan (MQM-P) over deteriorating civic conditions in Hyderabad intensified on Monday when local leaders of the two parties traded serious allegations holding the other responsible for the mess.

PPP’s Zahid Bhurgri, former minister for fisheries, and Abdul Jabbar Khan, CM’s consultant, held a press conference in the local press club condemn MQM-P’s recent protest against Local Government Minister Jam Khan Shoro. “It’s the MQM, which ruled over Hyderabad for 30 years, which is responsible for the destruction of the city,” they argued.

“Hyderabad has become a heap of garbage while its mayor belongs to the MQM-P. Mr Shoro has ensured development works in the city which were otherwise neglected. The situation in the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (HMC) had turned much better during the period it was headed by an administrator but since the takeover by the mayor, the situation has been deteriorating,” the PPP leaders observed. Regarding MQM-P’s complaints with regard to funds, Mr Bhurgari and Mr Jabbar claimed that the Sindh government had regularly been releasing Rs30 million every month for improving cleanliness and sanitation in Hyderabad. UCs’ chairmen were also getting Rs200,000 each per month, they added.

The PPP leaders also claimed that the Sindh government had allocated Rs10 billion for the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) to establish five effluent treatment plants in the city. Moreover, they added, the LG department had released Rs60 million for the laying of sewerage lines in the constituency of MQM-P’s MPA from Hyderabad Zubair Ahmed.

Criticising MQM-P MNA Waseem Hussain for using “intemperate language” against the LG minister during the recent protest he had led, the PPP leaders said that they could also react in the same way but PPP believed in harmony and peace in the city.

“It’s the same MNA who had taken shelter in his house when people from his own party had protested against him,” they said, adding that everyone was aware of the loot and plunder by MQM-P mayor and lawmakers.

Soon after the press conference, a spokesman for MQM-P’s Hyderabad district chapter lashed out at Jabbar Khan for his statements, and said that the root cause of Hyderabad’s issues was the provincial government’s bia­s­ed policies and “the people like Jabbar Khan, who alw­ays proved themselves to be more loyal than the king”. He said people of Hyderabad knew that MQM-P representatives were serving them despite being powerless and in the opposition. He said PPP lea­ders resorted to levelling all­e­gations after MQM-P’s elec­ted representatives mov­ed courts over the issues being faced by people of Hyderabad.

The spokesman said that only PS-47 and PS-50 (both won by PPP) in Hyderabad district were provided development funds by the provincial government while the remaining four constituencies won by the MQM-P remained deprived of funds.

He called for an inquiry into the “substandard” dev­elop­ment works carried out under the LG minister.

Published in Dawn, January 16th, 2018