Opposition members wearing black bands and chains in necks staged walkout from the City Council in protest against "arrest warrants" issued by the interior ministry under Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) against Seed Ghani.
"One of the advisers to chief minister has asked the Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Karachi to arrest and lodge blind FIRs against Saeed Ghani so that he could forget politics," claimed Sheikh Mehboob-ur-Rehman, an opposition member on a point of order.
Ghani, who is leader of opposition in the house and information secretary of Pakistan People's Party in Karachi, was not present in the house. The City Council session with Naib Nazim Nasrin Jalil in the chair was held here on Thursday.
Mehboob said that as the opposition members had no permission from the convenor to discuss their issues, they went on a token boycott. He termed issuance of "arrest warrant" against Ghani and arrest of Rafique Ahmed of Al-Khidmat Group as an uncivilised act on the part of the government. Responding to the outcry of Mehboob, the convenor said she would take up the issue with Sindh government, which was responsible for maintaining law and order situation in the province.
Syed Khalil Ahmed of Haq Parast Group countered Mehboob by saying no warrant was issued against Ghani and if the opposition was true in its claim, it should have brought documentary evidence before media and the house.
Abdul Jalil, Syed Waqar Hussain and Musarrat Jabeen also lashed out at Ghani-led opposition for demanding freedom on one hand and creating law and order situation on the other.
RESOLUTIONS: The Council adopted three resolutions unopposed. The first resolution tabled by Abdul Jalil condemned attacking and harassing of the city council members by some 'miscreants' in various parts of the city during last few days. It condemned the Wednesday's "armed attack" on Mazahir Ameer Khan and maltreatment of the two other Haq Parast members Shabnum Shahid and Najma Abrar by "miscreants".
Mohammad Ashraf Qureshi accused Khwaja Niaz, Naib Nazim UC 8, Site Town, of leading "miscreants" who had wounded Mazahir's driver by firing. A second resolution granted permission to the Municipal Office, Group of Offices, City District Government Karachi (CDGK), which has been established to resolve the problems of municipality and having an "Empress Account" and using Rs 5,000 a week for the maintenance of its offices.
Third resolution, tabled by Advocate Sarwat Arif, praised city nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal for convincing and getting a favourable verdict from the Supreme Court on the longstanding issue of "unity of command". The document paid rich tributes to the nazim for his "untiring efforts" to serve Karachiites. The convenor adjourned the session till Monday, November 19.