After a gap of six years, the new city council held its first meeting on Wednesday amid grave civic problems across the metropolis that awaiting an immediate resolution. Deputy Mayor Dr Arshad Vohra presided over the sitting, which was attended by some 305 elected council members, vowing to work together for the welfare of publi. The last session was held under Naib Nazim, Nasreen Jalil on December 15, 2010.
The imprisoned City's Mayor, Waseem Akhtar could not show up at the council for some legal matters. The council adopted a unanimous resolution for the release of the Mayor, although the opposition members urged that Waseem Akhtar's fate should be left at the courts to decide.
"We should be above the party affiliations to think and work together for the betterment of the society," Dr Vohar told the councillors, saying that the system that was missing for the last six years triggered numerous civic problems including health, education, road and civic infrastructure.
"Citizens are deprived of basic necessities," parliamentary leader of PPP Karamullah Waqasi said in his speech. He felt that the soaring population was making more problems for the outgrown city. "In the former council elected representatives were beaten up, which I hope will not reoccur," he said and extended his group's support to the treasury. He assured the council of a complete support from his party's provincial government for the uplift of the city. "There will not be any politics on public issues," he added.
PTI's parliamentary leader Firdous Shamim Naqvi showed concerns regarding the resolution of the growing civic problems with the existing Local Bodies Act. "I dream of a clean Karachi when we leave the council," he said, adding that "the KMC will have modern machinery to lift garbage, tough security and better treatments at the government-run hospitals". He said that the city needed peace to attract foreign investments. Blaming the former governments, he said that "the governments have failed over the last 30 years to establish institutions". Being an opposition group, he said that the PTI members would continue to highlight the civic problems with a 'strictest' criticism with a positive approach to help correct things. He urged the KMC to table its uplift agenda for the city soon. "The development plans should be brought in the council for three, six, nine months a year".
Arif Khan Advocate from MQM on this occasion expressed his party's resolve to work jointly for the betterment of the metropolis. "We are the representatives of 22 million people here in this august house. Our work should be for entire society regardless of any party association"
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) parliamentary leader Muhammad Junaid Mukati said the city infrastructure need urgent attention from the Council members. Elaborating he said swirling gutters, damaged roads, poor sanitary system, china cutting, and land grabbing have unfortunately become the hallmark of Karachi. He also urged the KMC council members to work jointly for the restoration of long-lasting peace. Aman Khan Afridi, parliamentary leader of Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), said the lingering issues of city could only be addressed when all councillors work together with the mutual consultative approach.
He urged the deputy mayor to ask the directors of different departments to attend the upcoming city council sessions. "Presence of directors should be ensured in the forthcoming sessions so that the public representatives can hold them accountable and issues could be solved in better way," he added.
The council also adopted a condemnation resolution against MQM founder Altaf Hussain's August-22 anti-Pakistan speech and consequent attacks on Media houses particularly on ARY channel. Besides, the house also condemned Indian atrocities and human right violations in the Occupied-Kashmir through adopting a unanimous resolution.