The City Council, while unanimously expressing sorrow over loss of human lives in the tragic collapse of Northern Bypass bridge, witnessed the opposition benches demanding resignations from the treasury members while praising the City Nazim for conducting the 'timely' rescue operation.
The session with City Naib Nazim Nasrin Jalil in the chair was started with the passage of three resolutions to condole the death of bridge collapse victims, mother of Salim Shehzad and the renowned Naat Khwan Al-Haaj Khursheed Ahmed.
"Fateha" was also offered for the bridge victims. On a point of order, Abdul Razzaq of Al-Khidmat group backed by Jumman Darwan and others expressed his grief over the deadly incident of bridge collapse and demanded for a judicial inquiry into the matter under the auspices of Supreme Court.
He said mere suspension of some officers and engineers was not enough to satisfy the masses rather those people closely related to the project should be arrested and punished.
Mohammad Asif Siddiqui of Haq Parast panel expressing grief over the tragic incident said in 2004 Federal Communication Minister Shamim Siddiqui had pointed out some structural faults in the bridge and now City Nazim Mustafa Kamal and Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad had also issued directives to the concerned departments for surveying all flyovers and underpasses in the metropolis.
"I take this opportunity to praise City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal for his timely and dedicated efforts after the unfortunate incident took place", he said amid noisy ovations from the treasury benches. Looking at such sincere feelings on the part of the City Nazim, Asif Siddiqui said the city's administrative and territorial control should be given to the City District Government Karachi (CDGK).
Leader of opposition in Council Saeed Ghani of Awam Dost panel backed by Shahjahan Baloch then demanded for a resignation from the communication minister as he said Shamim Siddiqui should have ensured that his concerns were fully allayed before okaying the project.