KARACHI, July 23: After a heated debate, the city council on Wednesday expressed its concern over the rising trend in prices of essential commodities and urged the federal government to take appropriate measures to control the increasing prices of petrol, in order to lessen the burden of electricity and gas charges on the common man.

Through a unanimously adopted resolution tabled by the treasury members, the council also called for taking punitive action against hoarders responsible for creating an artificial shortage of goods. The house also passed an amendment resolution demanding a cut in the prices of petrol and petroleum goods in view of the reduction in global oil prices to provide relief to the people.

The session was presided over by Naib Nazim Nasreen Jalil, who allowed both sides of the house to express their opinion on the vital issue of public interest.

At the outset of the proceedings, several members tried to highlight the civic issues affecting their particular union councils. But the convener turned down their pleas, saying that the house first had to take up the issue of inflation, which was a source of concern for the entire nation.

Consequently, the house members initiated the debate, in which members of both the treasury and the opposition participated.

Most of the treasury members slammed the government for its failure to control the hoarders and profiteers who were responsible for creating an artificial shortage of essential goods.

They agreed that the root-cause of the present crisis was global inflation caused by increasing oil prices, but they said there was no justification for the unparalleled rise in the prices of domestic goods.

The treasury members called for taking corrective measures for improving the situation and suggested that the borders should be sealed to control hoarding and smuggling. They also suggested that there should be no restrictions on the inter-provincial movement of goods.

Earlier, taking the floor, Rafiq Ahmed of the Al-Khidmat panel expressed concern over incidents of lawlessness in the country, saying that law and order had totally collapsed, which was a matter of concern for every citizen.

Describing the situation as grim, Mr Ahmed called for urgent measures to control the worsening law and order situation.

Akhtar Jadoon, a treasury member from Baldia, complained about water scarcity in his locality, saying that despite various complaints lodged by him with the authorities concerned, no action had been taken so far to rectify the situation.

Opposition member Shah Jehan Baloch also drew the attention of the convener towards the water shortage in his locality. He also pointed out that work on the development of Bakhtawar Park, which was suspended some years ago, was yet to be started.

Responding to the members, leader of the house Asif Siddiqui said the current debate should not focus on local issues pertaining to union councils, which could be discussed later. Upon this, Shah Jehan Baloch remarked there was no such tradition in the house.

Nazim in the spotlight

Thereupon, opposition leader Sheikh Mehbub intervened, saying that the house was meant to debate local issues but these issues were never debated. He said the house should even be allowed to debate the performance of the present nazim.

Mr Masood Mehmud, a treasury leader, reacted to the remarks of Mr Mehbub by defending the city nazim. He said during his tenure the city district government had built several mega projects including bypasses, flyovers and underpasses.

Mr Mehmud said the nazim declared 2008 as UC development year to meet the development needs of the social sector of each union council, although under the relevant rules of the SLGO, it was the town administration which is responsible for the development of the UCs.

Despite this, he said, the nazim allocated funds for the development of the UCs, which is not mandatory but discretionary. The treasury leader urged the government to restore the withheld funds of the local government.

Mr Arshad Qureshi of the Haq Parast panel criticised the opposition members, alleging that they failed to deliver the goods and were now raising a hue and cry to cover up their “misdeeds.”

“It is better if they resign,” he advised members of the opposition.

While the proceedings were in progress, Masood Mehmud, being a senior presiding officer, was asked to conduct the business of the house by the convener.

Earlier, Abdul Razzak of the Al-Khidmat group drew the attention of the convener toward the impending monsoon threat, saying that work on a storm-water drain in his constituency had not been carried out. He also called for conducting a survey of dangerous buildings.

‘Hidden forces’

Taking the floor, opposition leader Juman Darwan stressed the need for unity among political forces of the country, saying: “we are passing through a critical phase.” He added that “hidden forces were out to destroy the democratic set-up in the country.” He termed the killing of Khalid Shahanshah and recent series of bomb blasts as part of this conspiracy.

After Mr Darwan’s speech, the presiding officer sought the views of the house on the resolution of inflation, which was adopted unanimously. However, the opposition did not participate in the debate.

Earlier, the house condoled the death of Khalid Shahanshah, chief security officer of Bilawal House.

The house was adjourned to meet on July 24 at 4.30pm.