ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers in the National Assembly, on Monday, blamed each other's governments for failure to address the civic issues of Karachi following massive floods in the metropolis after rains on Sunday.

Speaking on a point of order, Aftab Siddiqui, PTI MNA from Karachi, challenged a PPP lawmaker who had earlier held the Karachi Cantonment as responsible and being a hindrance in smooth drainage of the rain water.

"It is not the Cantonment which is a hindrance and a cause of massive floods in Karachi, but the incompetence of the Sindh government...probe the issue, if it was proved the Cantonment is a hindrance in the sewerage, I am ready to tender my resignation," said Siddiqui of the PTI.

Another PTI MNA from Karachi Faheem Khan lambasted the PPP and its Sindh government for its alleged failure to resolve the civic issues of the metropolis.

"It was so shameful and unfortunate that Karachi was sinking yesterday (Sunday) in the rainwater, while PPP's leaders were busy in cutting the cakes," he said, while referring to the birthday celebrations of the PPP co-chairman, Asif Ali Zardari, which was observed on Sunday.

He further alleged that appointments had been made on political grounds in the Water Board, adding there were around 12,000 "ghost employees" of the board.

Last year, he added that Karachi received 163 millimeters rains, while on Sunday; it was 28 millimeters in the city, which led to flooding of the entire city. According to him, Karachi was the worst victim of the 18th Amendment.

While responding, PPP's MNA Agha Rafiullah dared the PTI lawmakers to speak up against the housing societies owned by the "powerful", which according to him, was resulting in floods in Karachi.

"If you want to resolve the issue of Karachi, then you should also have the courage to speak up. You are the people who brought and showed their 'boots' on the TV show," he said, adding that the flooding in Karachi was because of Cantonment area.

He also stated that the PTI lawmakers were given Rs300 million for Karachi to address those issues, but instead of "doing something, they are blaming the previous governments".

He further said the mayor of Karachi also belonged to the ruling alliance, "who is responsible for the civic issues".

The PPP lawmaker also diverted attention of the House towards the law and order situation in Kurram tribal district, saying that two bomb blasts had occurred in the district and a conspiracy was being hatched to create chaos in the district, and demanded that the Chief Minister Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa should visit the tribal district.

Speaking at a news conference at the Parliament House, the PTI MNA from Karachi Alamgir Khan blamed the PPP's provincial government for punishing the people of Karachi for voting for the PTI.

He further alleged that the provincial government was not giving funds to the mayor of Karachi.

He said PTI MNA and Federal Minister Ali Zaidi launched a campaign to cleanse the drainage system of the city, but the provincial government refused to provide a place for dumping the garbage.

"Who has set up illegal settlements around the canals?" he asked, adding the PPP did nothing for Karachi despite being in power for the last 30 years.

Speaking on the floor of the House, Nuzhat Pathan of the PTI said Karachi was part of Sindh, adding the issues of Karachi and its people needed to be addressed on priority.

She also criticised a Punjab provincial assembly bill - Tahaffuz-i-Bunyad-i-Islam (protecting the foundation of Islam) Bill 2020.

She said the bill was aimed at spreading sectarianism and hatred in the country.

On a point of order, Shahida Akhtar Ali of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) blamed the government for giving Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav as "goodwill gesture" to India on Pakistan's Independence Day.

Chaudhry Mohammad Ashraf of the PML-N pointed out that farmers had been charged with extra amount in the electricity bills on the heads of quarterly tariff, and other surcharges, describing this as injustice to the farmers which have no legal justification.

He said that he also held a meeting with the minister for energy who excused himself saying that it was charged by the Ministry of Finance.

"On what grounds the Finance has imposed these surcharges...don't the farmers have the right to live?" he asked.

He said that as per Article 77 of the Constitution, the government did not impose any tax or surcharge without a parliamentary bill.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020