By Our Correspondent
KARACHI: Hundreds of local government representatives, including chairmen, vice-chairmen, and councillors, marched from Khizra Mosque to the Sindh Assembly on May 23, demanding the restoration of rightful administrative and financial powers for Karachi’s elected officials. The demonstration reflected mounting frustration over the Sindh government’s failure to devolve authority and release funds as guaranteed by the constitution.
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi Ameer Monem Zafar called for the immediate disbursement of Rs500 billion dedicated to Karachi’s development. He demanded an allocation of Rs2 billion for each town and Rs2.5 million monthly for every union council, emphasizing these provisions as constitutional entitlements. Zafar sharply criticized the PPP-led Sindh government for neglecting Karachi, accusing it of nepotism, corruption, and deliberately withholding funds. He underscored Karachi’s critical economic role, noting the city contributes 60% of federal taxes and accounts for 96% of Sindh’s provincial budget, yet remains “ruined” under the current administration.
Opposition city council leader Saifuddin Advocate labeled the PPP a “parasite” exploiting Karachi’s resources and warned that if local government rights continued to be denied, a campaign to change the provincial regime would be launched. MPA Muhammad Farooq reinforced that constitutional provisions empower local representatives, but Sindh’s government continues to obstruct these powers.
JI also condemned recent legislative moves to appoint bureaucrats as educational board chairmen, standing alone against such measures. The marchers pledged to escalate their Karachi Rights Movement after Eidul Adha amid growing public discontent over electricity outages, law and order challenges, and worsening civic conditions in the city.
