The Sindh government has taken a serious notice of use of hoarding, a government property, by Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) for propagating their million march on March 20. "It is sheer violation of the Sindh Local Government Ordinance and city government, by allowing government hoarding sites for the MMA's million march, is in fact working against the government and the policies of President Pervez Musharraf for the development of Pakistan."
This was stated by Advisor to Chief Minister for Local Government Waseem Akhtar, while addressing a press conference here on Friday. He said the CDGK had allowed its hoarding sites, which are government property, all over the city to be used by the MMA for displaying their million march banners.
Waseem Akhtar pointed out that city government had fixed a target of Rs one billion to be raised by renting out its hoarding sites, but it could collect only Rs 27 million.
He said the city government is not focussing on making recoveries from hoarding, which it rents out, while it has allowed MMA to use the same free of cost, that is an example of corruption and violation of the rules as laid down in the SLGO.
He referred to a resolution passed by the City Council of present CDGK carrying bylaws which banned the unauthorised use of hoarding and display of banner and said the city government itself was flouting its own approved bylaws.
Quoting the SLGO, he said it provides for the district government to work within the framework of provincial government and in this context the City nazim had been told repeatedly not to violate the SLGO and adhere to federal and provincial government laws.
He said the local government is a tier of federal and provincial governments and still their laws are being violated.
He charged the city government of working against the policies of President Pervez Musharraf and said that the City Nazim is propagating the cause of opposition which does not want to see development taking place in the country due to President's policies.
Referring to the objective of the million march, Waseem Akhtar said that it is being taken out against obscenity, vulgarity and rising prices.
He said that it is for the City government to check obscenity and vulgarity being displayed through its hoarding while to check soaring prices, which is due to increasing fuel prices, the city government should hold gruelling talks with stakeholders to arrest price hike.
The advisor said their demand for appointing administrators was made in the very context that city government is working against the government.
He said that if MMA people and even the City government has differences with the President's policies, then they should resign or let the government work for development of the country till next elections in the year 2007.