City Council passes resolution against Altaf’s speech

Also demands mayor’s release and a speedy trial to complete legal formalities

The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation City Council session, held after over six and a half years at the KMC old building council hall on Wednesday, unanimously approved a resolution against Muttahida Qaumi Movement founder Altaf Hussain for his speech against state institutions on August 22.

The resolution was presented by Firdous Shamim Naqvi of the MQM and passed amid clapping. The nazim system was dislodged on February 20, 2010. The council also chanted the slogan of “Pakistan Zindabad”.

The resolution was signed by Alam Zaib Alai, Amanullah Afridi, and Karamullah Waqasi. The resolution described the MQM founder’s speech an attack on the solidarity and integrity of Pakistan. It was stated that because of the provocative speech, the office of a private TV channel was attacked which was condemnable.

The council unanimously demanded stern punishment in accordance with the law and the constitution of Pakistan against all those who delivered speeches against Pakistan and involved in terrorism.

One of the council members, Mohammed Waqar of the MQM, on a point of order said the names of Asfandyar Wali and Mahmood Khan Achakzai should also be included in the resolution as they too had delivered speeches against the country. Deputy mayor Dr Arshad Abdullah Vohra, who was chairing the session, said he could include these names in the next session.

Vohra said the council condemned the MQM founder’s speech. Imprisoned Karachi mayor Waseem Akhtar was supposed to be presented in the council session, but could not be brought from jail. The session was scheduled to start at 3pm but delayed for Akhtar. Later, it started at 4:30pm.

Vohra later told reporters in his chamber that it was unfortunate that despite court orders, the mayor was not brought for the council session. The City Council has 308 members.

   Mayor’s release

The KMC City Council also unanimously passed a resolution demanding the immediate release of Mayor Waseem Akhtar with the condition that a speedy trial should be held with the completion of all legal formalities.

The resolution stated that the Akhtar at the time of the oath-taking ceremony had said that he was not the mayor of any party, but that of Karachi.

The council demanded that the government should immediately release Akhtar so that he could play his role for the development and prosperity of the city. The resolution was presented by Riffat Khan and Nadeem Hashmi.

  Kashmir resolution

The KMC City Council also unanimously passed another resolution condemning the atrocities being committed by Indian army on Kashmiris. The resolution stated that India was continuously violating human rights which condemnable. It demanded that Kashmiris should be given their due rights. The resolution was presented by Nawaz Khan, Mohammed Junaid Mukati, and Haider Akbar Shah Hashmi.  

Committees formed

The KMC City Council also unanimously approved a resolution for forming 27 committees. They include the administrative affairs committee with seven members, the finance committee with seven members, the law affairs committee with 15 members, the media management committee with 13 members, the Parks committee with seven members, the veterinary committee with 14 members, the land committee with seven members, the katchi abadis committee with seven members, the property (estate) committee with seven members, the charged parking committee with seven members, the municipal utility charges committee with seven members, the sports and culture committee with 15 members, the medical committee with 13 members, the mother and child committee with 13 members, the investment promotion committee with 13 members the fire brigade civil defence committee with 13 members, the health committee with 13 members, the works committee civil with 13 members, the works committee electrical and mechanical with 13 members, the committee regarding names with 15 with members, the coordination committee with 15 members, the ethics conduct committee with 13 members, the planning and development committee with seven members., the education coordination committee with 13 members, the foreign affairs committee with 13 members, and the business relations committee with 13 members.

The members said they were not provided with copies of the committees earlier so that they could have read it.

The council members of the Pakistan People’s Party, the Jamaat-e-Islami, the Awami Natiional Party; the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf assured the Vohra that they would extend their complete cooperation for the development and prosperity of the country.

Vohra said the objective of his party to serve the masses without any discrimination and the citizens expected each member to work hard to address their problems.

The JI deputy parliamentary leader Mohammad Junaid Mukati said his party would extend its all-out cooperation for the sake of the city.

Aman Khan Afridi of the PML-N said problems of the city could only be resolved when the heads of each and every department of the KMC should be present in the council hall.

Alam Zeb Alai of the ANP there should be one common manifesto of all the parties to serve the city.

JUI parliamentary party leader Akbar Shah Karachi generated 60 percent of the country’s revenue so the youth of the city should be used for its development.

PTI’s Mohammad Firdous Nasir said the police and law enforcement agencies in Karachi should be made stronger so that the city would not need Rangers.

MQM’s Mohammad Arif Khan advocate assured that the MQM would serve the city without any discrimination.