960407

MQM opposes bill on

KMC decentralisation

KARACHI: Leader of the opposition in Sindh Assembly, Dr Farooq Sattar has strongly opposed the proposed bill of decentralization of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and termed it as "conspiracy against the status of KMC and continuation of unconstitutional and undemocratic hold of government on it."

Talking to journalists at his Chamber on Sunday after the assembly session, boycotted by MQM MPAs, he said setting up of five district municipal corporations were the restoration of zonal municipal corporations (ZMCs) which were dissolved in 1994. He said "we also opposed the decision of dissolving ZMCs", but now structure of DMC were made more complex which was disastrous for the people of Karachi.

Criticizing the proposed expansion in KMC constituencies in Malir district, he said earlier, Malir and District East consisted of 70 seats, but, after the establishment of Malir district, seats were increased to a total of 95 seats in both the districts. He lamented that seats in other districts like Central were not expanded. He suggested that without holding the census, redemarcation of the constituencies should be made on the increasing ratio of population.

He said that according to prevailing set up, one-third of councillors were picked for the upper house of KMC, from each district and representation in upper house meets democratic requirements but, in the proposed bill a number of representations were fixed in each district irrespective of its seats.

He said District Central and East gave 65 seats while district Malir consisted of only 30 seats, but, from both the districts, fixed number of representatives would go to the upper house of KMC. He described it as a social murder of metropolitan system and an intrigue to end the democratic status of KMC.

He said in the proposed bill, Mayor of KMC would be accountable before Commissioner of Karachi which means local bodies would be completely controlled by bureaucracy. He said after this decision there was no need of holding polls for local bodies and the present system now could remain continue.

Stressing the need of setting up solid and authoritative megapolis, he said the land being looked after by civic agencies like KPT, PWD, KDA, Railway Cantonment areas and similar other departments which were almost up to 35 in numbers, should be handed over to KMC as these areas were out of KMC jurisdiction and obstruction in development of the city.

He said collection system of taxes should also be centralised and all toll taxes, motor vehicle taxes and other taxes should be collected by KMC but the government was exercising experiments on Karachi and not interested in the betterment of the city.

He alleged that it was blatant violation even of PPP manifesto for social contact. He said PPP claimed that Karachiites were with them, but the public participation in Nishtar Park on March 23 and in Garhi Khuda Bux on April 4, exposed its popularity.

He suggested the government not to wait for November 1996 and to hold local bodies polls in 15 days, "we are ready to contest the election," he declared.-PPI