Quotations on Teen Talwaar: city council assures House to restore ZAB sayings

Taking serious notice of the deletion of quotes of PPP founding leader Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto on Teen Talwaar, a monument, by the Saddar Town administration, the City Council on Thursday assured the House that it will restore it. The members affirmed that any act against the leaders of political parties, hurting their supporters would not be tolerated.
During the proceedings held at City Council Hall with City Naib Nazim Nasrin Jalil in the chair, the deputy parliamentary leader of Awam Dost Group, Jumman Darwan, informed the House that no action has been taken so far by the concerned authorities against the Saddar Town Administration which had erased the sayings of their leader, on the important monument of the city which he said was a conspiracy to fail the move of reconciliation in the country.
Darwan, who had raised the issue in the council session held on October 5, 2009, said the Awam Dost members of the council would stage hunger strike at the monument, if action was not taken against the town administration. He said despite the strong protest by the opposition members nothing has been done to restore the quotes, which might disturb the peaceful environment of the metropolis.
The convenor, while ensuring to take serious action regarding the issue, said the monument would be restored with the sayings of Quaid-e-Awam, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, as everyone should respect the leaders of each other's parties. Every member of Union Council was responsible for maintaining the peaceful environment of the city, and for that they should avoid any act which might hurt their fellows sentiments, she added.
Earlier, some opposition members including Ramzan Awan, Jumman and Ibrahim, recorded their protest regarding the funding issue of UCs, for which City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal had promised to release at least Rs 2.5 million to each UC. Justifying the City District Government Karachi (CDGK) inability to release the promised funds, the convenor said due to the financial constrains, the government was not in a position to issue at least Rs 637.5 million to over 250 UCs.
She said CDGK has been receiving Rs 201.689 million monthly as Octroi Zila Tax (OZT) share, against the actual share of Rs 284.311 million, from the Sindh Government. There was a huge shortfall of Rs 870.44 million in the Single Line Transfer, which was to be transferred to the local government by the provincial government, she added.
Beside, she said, the provincial government has reduced the CDGK revenue through imposing bans on its revenue generating sources. However, objecting to the figures, Darwan said according to Sindh Government financial records no reduction has been made in the CDGK share. He said the city government was on the other hand was delaying the release of Rs 0.2 million share of the UCs, which he claimed had already been issued by the provincial government.
Imran Baghpati, another member from the opposition informed the House that according to the rules the finance department of CDGK has to inform the House regarding the funding/expenditures regularly. Arshad Qureshi, a Haq Parast legislature, raised the issue of sugar crisis in the city, despite the Supreme Court verdict the poverty-stricken citizens were purchasing the kitchen item at Rs 55 to 60 per kilogramme.
Masood Mehmood, the senior presiding officer, drew the attention of the House towards the resignation of Younas Khan, as captain of Pakistan cricket team, and requested the cricket board not to accept the resignation as the team has shown better performance in Khan's captaincy.
RESOLUTIONS: Meanwhile the House passed three resolutions regarding the Impress Account for Landhi Medical Complex, the approval of reports of the City Council's Agricultural Monitoring Committee and a reward of Rs 25000 to Athar Iqbal, media co-ordinator of the council for his services. However the first one was objected to by the opposition. Later, the convenor adjourned the session sine die.