Karachi: City Council resolution demands lease rights for cattle colony residents

[Naveed Yaseen]

* Opposition benches oppose motion
By Irfan Aligi
KARACHI: The City Council on Monday passed eight council resolutions (CRs), out of which one pertaining to the ongoing tussle between the city government and the Sindh government over the latter’s order to impose a ban on sale, lease and purchase of land by local bodies, led to a heated debate in the house.

Differences have emerged between the Pakistan People’s Party and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement following Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah’s ban and City Nazim Mustafa Kamal’s consequent move to challenge the order in the court.

Both the treasury and the opposition benches in the City Council also expressed their views during debates over this issue. The house approved eight CRs including one demanding awarding lease rights to the residents of cattle colony in Landhi Town.

Arshad Qureshi advocate of the treasury benches had tabled this CR. Members of the opposition benches expressed strong apprehensions over the CR and wanted debate on it prior to the approval from the house.

However, a debate could not take place and the CR was approved with the majority of the votes. Speaking on a point of order, Qureshi said that in the past, the Sindh government had handed over the possession of the cattle colony land to the defunct KMC but did not transfer the powers for awarding lease rights.

In 1974, the entire premises were demarcated for the same purpose and the lease fee was fixed as Rs 4 per square yard. However, the leases could not be awarded till date.

Nasim Khan of the opposition benches objecting over the tabling of the CR argued that it should not have been tabled, as the lease issue was sub-judice and being heard in the Sindh High Court.

In reply, leader of the house, Muhammad Asif Siddiqui, said that the City Council has the constitutional right to approve or disapprove such CRs.

Speaking on point of order, Shamim Mumtaz Wasi of the opposition benches claimed that the treasury benches, through tabling the CR for lease rights for the residents of the cattle colony, have tried to gain political scores while they had not thought about it during the past four years.

Speaking on a point of order, Ramzan Awan of the opposition benches demanded that the convener of the house should take notice of the sewerage system that has been chocked in the Gizri area. He requested the convener to approach the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board managing director for an explanation and demand efforts to address the problem.

Imran Baghpatti of the opposition benches demanded the convener to ask the City District Government Karachi’s Health Department to become active to control the flies that hover on edible commodities such as beef and poultry products, and hence spread diseases.

The house also passed a CR by Qureshi that demanded formation of a committee to investigate the actual reasons of the building collapse in Meethadar and demolition of dangerous buildings in old city areas while providing alternative premises to the affected citizens.

The house also passed a CR by Sarwat Arif advocate for awarding a civil award to former Director Karachi Zoological Garden and present adviser for his services for the promotion of zoo culture.

The house passed another CR by Mohiuddin Fatimi for extending Goaish Adventure Park from five to 30 years.

Member of the City Council of the minority wing of the treasury benches, Arif Bhatti, tabled a CR for plantation of saplings across the city in order to make the project Greener Karachi more viable and conducive for the better environment. The CR was unanimously passed.

Three other CRs were also passed including one that demanded the CDGK to launch a fumigation campaign across the city for pest control, one for chalking out a layout plan for Upper Gizri Sheet 4 and Lower Gizri Sheet 1, Saddar Town and a condolence CR for the riot victims in Gojra, Punjab.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...009_pg12_1