KARACHI, April 5: The City Council members in a roaring session on Tuesday opposed the bifurcation of Hyderabad district saying that the decision has been taken on political, ethnic grounds and for benefit of certain groups in Sindh government. The session was held at City Council Hall, M.A. Jinnah Road with City Naib Nazim Tariq Hasan in the chair. Expressing his views, council member Najmi Alam said that Hyderabad district was divided to appease a group in Sindh government. “We condemn this decision beside arrests of local representatives and raids on their homes,” he added.

Shamim Mumtaz questioned if Hyderabad was divided on the basis of area, Karachi was even larger why it was not bifurcated? She also condemned the arrests and raids on houses of elected representatives.

Sajjad Dara said that the bifurcation was done 100 per cent on ethnic grounds. He said that the provincial government was creating hurdles in the way of city district government of Karachi since it came into power. As a result, the development works had been stopped in the city.

“MMA strike was successful and 80 per cent areas of Pakistan were closed, which government despite efforts could not get reopened. A group in Sindh government, who played politics of forced strikes in the past, could answer if their actions were democratic,” he remarked.

Noor Hasan Jokhio said that the government had been creating new problems every day. “Division of Hyderabad was rejected by majority of people. We condemn this decision as it has taken only on ethnic grounds,” he said while supporting the argument of Shamim Mumtaz.

Raana Advocate, however, spoke in favour of bifurcation of Hyderabad saying that it would end the monopoly of feudal lords.

Riaz Tabbasum spoke on the issue of arrears of council members and urged for early release of the amount.

Siddique Rathore protested on power breakdown and non-functioning of generator at the City Council Hall and asked the officials concerned to present report in this matter in the house.

He also urged release of the funds of Rs.0.64 million, earmarked to union councils.

“A special meeting of the council should be convened to resolve this issue. Bureaucrats are not familiar with public problems. Concerned officials should attend the session and answer the questions raised by the house,” he demanded.

Later adopting a resolution, the city council members observed silence for two minutes on the demise of Pope John Paul II and paid tribute to him. Registering their feelings, Tariq Hasan adjourned the session till Saturday.

Talking to newsmen after the session, Naib Nazim Tariq Hasan condemned the arrests and raids on the houses of elected nazims saying it was against democratic norms. He also urged for release of arrested elected representatives, leaders and workers.

POWER FAILURE: The City Council session on Tuesday was held without electricity, with the backup system (generator) also out of order.

The council members, during the session, spoke without any sound system. There was hue and cry throughout the session, with the City Naib-Nazim, Tariq Hasan, having to speak very loudly to express his views while responding to the speeches of the members.

Meanwhile, in a letter by the city naib nazim to the managing director of the KESC on April 4, it was mentioned that due to load-shedding, power went off for seven to eight hours daily, which had paralyzed the functions of departments located in the City Council Secretariat (old KMC building) on the M.A. Jinnah Road.

Due to frequent power failure, the generator fixed on the premises had also been badly affected. The session that started from April 5 would continue for a week.

The letter urged the MD KESC to personally intervene and issue directives to the concerned to declare this area especially the city council secretariat free from load-shedding so that sessions could be held session smoothly.—PPI