The City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal has apologised for his recent politically motivated statement, saying it was not meant to hurt the feelings of his party's political opponents. Speaking at his first press conference after retaking the portfolio of the chairman of Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KW&SB) on Thursday at board's head office, he supported the ongoing process of political reconciliation in the country.
Kamal said his recent statement was not meant to hurt anyone. "I apologise to anyone who was hurt by my words," he added. MQM has a policy of resolving all disputes through reconciliation, he said adding that therefore, his party has extended unconditional support to the coalition government.
In order to overcome the crisis, the board would be run according to the essence of the Sindh Local Government Ordinance (SLGO), 2001 and dissolved to town level under the same rules, he stressed.
Kamal said despite the transfer of hundreds of officers in the City District Government Karachi (CDGK) and reduction in the development funds, our government still favours the policy of reconciliation with all political opponents. He urged that everyone should play its role to make Karachi economically strong. Kamal said CDGK is facing Rs 3 billion deficit but our strategy is to ensure continuity of the development activities and all ongoing projects would not be stopped owing to lack of funds. He informed that the development work of Nagan and Gulshan flyovers is moving on a snail pace, therefore, CDGK has arranged bridge financing to maintain its pace. Kamal denied that any illegal recruitment was made in water board and said all appointments will be done on merit. He said the federal and provincial governments would provide financial assistance for K-IV project.
The KW&SB vice chairman Haji Munawar Ali Abbasi and Managing Director Suleman Chandio were surprisingly not present at the press conference. It is being expected that some prominent portfolios in KW&SB would again be reshuffled after retaking the charge of board by CDGK.