KARACHI, March 1: City Nazim Naimatullah Khan has said the Sindh Local Government Ordinance needs certain amendments but any attempt to curtail the powers of Nazims will be opposed at all levels.
“The Nazims will reject any commission or committee constituted illegally or having no representation of them,” he said at a five-day training workshop for Nazims and district government officials on Friday evening.
Naimatullah Khan blamed certain provincial ministers and assembly members for creating confusion by issuing statements on the issues of the KWSB, KDA and KBCA, and added that it would affect the chain of command.
“These persons should realize the situation and avoid meddling in the local government affairs,” he added.
The City Nazim pointed out that interference in the district governments had begun soon after establishment of the elected government in the province. He said it was because the MPAs felt powerless under the new system, contrary to the fact that both had their own areas of operation under the new law.
“Before formation of the government, we had invited the assembly members to contact the Nazims for resolution of their problems but they did not listen to, and now are issuing directives to the officials,” he said, citing an example of transfers and postings of police officers without his consultation.
Naimatullah Khan said that no one could undo the district government system because it had been provided constitutional cover and Pakistan had been put on the path of progress after 56 years.
He said the City Nazim had been made responsible for maintenance of law and order but the transfers and postings of police officers were being made whimsically. “How can law and order be maintained in such a situation?”
He said that the city government had written three letters to the government, seeking honoraria for union council Nazims and councillors, but no reply had been received as yet.
He said that the National Reconstruction Bureau (NRB) should determine the powers of union councillors and fix honoraria for them.
Speaking at the inauguration of a NADRA swift registration office in Site area, he said law and order could not be guaranteed amid meddling in the affairs of the city government. The governor of Sindh and the chief minister have, however, been extending full cooperation in this regard, he added.
NGOs’ ROLE: Naimatullah Khan, praising the role of non-governmental organizations in promoting education, has said that the government was ready to extend financial help to these organizations.
He was addressing the students of a school being run under an NGO, Ittihad-i-Ghariban Free Education Centre, in Lyari. Town Nazim Abdul Khaliq Juma, UC Nazims and councillors were also present.
He urged the youths to work for elimination of drug addiction. According to him, there were more drug addicts in the area as compared to other parts of the city. He termed the fight against drug-sellers as a holy job.
Later, accompanied by Saddar Town Nazim Farooq Farya and UC Nazim Abdul Razzaq Sangani, he visited different localities of Kharadar and the camps set up for ongoing campaign against encroachments.
About supply of water, he told the elected representatives and the residents that the water board would be directed to increase the supply, after which the situation would improve. —PPI/APP