Sattar terms cleanliness campaign successful
The News
23 July 2003
By our correspondent
KARACHI: The week-long cleanliness campaign of the Muttahida
Qaumi Movement concluded on Tuesday with the claim of the campaign incharge, Dr
Farooq Sattar, that the drive was successful as people of Landhi and Korangi
were happy and heaved a sigh of relief.
The "citizens services week" started from July 16 and more than 2,000 party workers and volunteers participated in the campaign with a large number of the area's residents and cleared the area of garbage dumps, rain water, and sewerage. He said that the party MNAs, MPAs, ministers, advisers, and leaders fully participated in the campaign and worked day and night with the workers to redress the complaints of the inhabitants regarding the restoration of electricity and water supply.
The Muttahida leader said that the purpose of the campaign
was to provide the area people healthy and clean surroundings, free of garbage
dumps. Dr Farooq Sattar said that sewerage and drinking water was mixed in many
areas, which posed a threat to the very lives of the area people. Expressing
concern over the attitude of the City and Town Nazims and administrations He
said that non-co-operation from the Nazims exposed their political aims even
though they were elected through non-party election. He said the situation would
have been better had the Nazims co-operated in this campaign.
Muttahida's cleanliness drive at Landhi-Korangi concludes today
The News
22 July 2003
By our correspondent
KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement's weeklong cleanliness
drive, launched in Landhi and Korangi, is concluding today.
According to the party more then 6,000 tones of garbage was
lifted from 300 garbage houses, garbage was also removed from 10 rain drain
lines, many sewerage lines were repaired and streets were cleaned during the
last six days.
The volunteers and workers of the party also planted thousands of trees and sprayed pesticides in the drain and sewerage lines on the complaints of the area people. The Muttahida leaders and elected representatives received the complaints and took steps for restoration of power and water supply.
The chief of the campaign, Dr Farooq Sattar, monitored the
drive continuously day and night and appreciated the cooperation of the
officials, traders, business community, party activists and area people.
Meanwhile, the Coordination Committee of Muttahida Qaumi Movement expressed concern over the rain-related deaths and loss of property in the city due to negligence of the city government and the Nazim.
The committee alleged that the Mubarak Village Dam was washed away due to the negligence of City Nazim. The committee alleged that despite the fact that the Nazim was informed about the worst condition of the dam in time, he did not take any notice of the condition and failed to take any step for shifting the affected people to safer places.
The committee further said that the worst condition of the
roads, open manhole and garbage dumps were enough to expose the performance of
the city government. They said that Sharea Faisal bridge was also damaged due to
negligence of the city government. The committee demanded of the chief minister
to take notice of this poor performance of the CDGK.
4th day of Muttahida
cleanliness drive
Sattar inspects civic upkeep drive in Landhi, Korangi
The News Internet Edition
20 July 2003
KARACHI: Senior Deputy-Convenor, MQM Co-ordination Committee, and MNA, Dr Farooq Sattar, paid a visit to different areas of Landhi and Korangi on Saturday, the fourth day of social service drive initiated by the party.
The MNA from the area, Dr
Sattar reviewed the ongoing cleanliness drive there and met local residents who
apprised him of various complaints related to civic issues. He issued orders for
their immediate redress.
Muttahida workers, with the help of the residents, cleared a sewerage line in Korangi No 2 (which had been non-functional for more than 12 years). Besides, storm water drains situated at the Landhi-Korangi intersection and other such drains that have been blocked for many years have been made to flow again by clearing heaps of garbage accumulated in them.
Meanwhile, a protective wall
was also constructed along the drain at Korangi 35-A where two-year-old, Umar
Farooq had drowned two days ago.
Dr Sattar visited the child's
residence and condoled with the family. The social services drive has helped
improve the sewerage system in the area. Members of the Co-ordination Committee
Hasan Musana Alvi, Senator Nighat Mirza, Provincial Minster for Excise &
Taxation Rauf Siddiqui, Advisor to Chief Minister, Sindh Mumtaz Hameed, Mumtaz
Anwar, MPAs Sindh Assembly Talib Imam, Jarar Haider, Aamir Moeen Pirzada and
Abdul Qudoos were also present.
About 2,000 trees have been planted in various parts of Landhi-Korangi during the ongoing drive, while workers and party office-bearers, with the help of residents, have swept water away from the roads.
Muttahida cleanliness drive enters third day
The
News
19 July 2003
By our correspondent
KARACHI: The cleanliness drive of Muttahida Qaumi Movement continued for the third day in Landhi and Korangi Towns with 3,000 tonnes of garbage lifted, 25 choked sewerage lines and five rain drain lines cleaned in the areas by volunteers and party workers.
Briefing newsmen at the camp office, head of the campaign Dr Farooq Sattar said that more than 70 out of 300 garbage dumps were removed while lifting of garbage was going on day and night.
He
said that heavy machinery, dump trucks, loaders, sucking machines, trucks and
other vehicles were being used for lifting garbage and cleaning drain lines and
hoped that the target to clean the area would be achieved with the co-operation
of the area people and party workers.
He further said that 2,000 trees were planted in the area while the target was of planting 8,000 trees.
The Muttahida MNA further said that the response of area people was very positive and party camps were daily receiving complaints from the people. He said that most complaints were related to the unhygienic condition, removal of rain and sewerage water and restoration of power supply.
Dr
Farooq Sattar said that ministers, advisors and other party leaders were
monitoring the campaign and personally receiving complaints and issuing orders
on the spot to redress the problems.
He said that the situation would have been more worst after the rain if the party had not started its cleanliness campaign and declared that despite criticism from opponents, Muttahida would continue serving people on self-help basis.
He remarked that the party wanted to beautify the area parks
and sponsors had already agreed to adopt these parks but the city and town
administrations were creating hurdles.
Meanwhile,
the Muttahida MPAs criticised the city and Landhi and Korangi towns' Nazims for
opposing the cleanliness drive launched by Muttahida in the said Towns.
They stated that it was the basic responsibility of the civic
bodies and its administrations to provide hygienic
conditions to the people but they failed and they were
now creating hurdles in the cleanliness campaign.
The MPAs said that dumping of garbage, overflowing sewerage water and inundated streets in rain was enough to expose the performance of the city and towns administrations.
Muttahida's cleanliness campaign enters second day
The News
18 July 2003
By our correspondent
KARACHI: The cleanliness campaign of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement continued for the second day on Thursday in Landhi and Korangi.
The party workers and local people removed the rain and sewerage water and garbage from the two towns.
According to Muttahida leaders owing to non-cooperation of the town's Nazims the volunteers and party workers faced difficulties in lifting garbage and draining the rain and sewerage water out as the equipment and vehicles, used for lifting garbage, were locked in workshops on the instruction of the towns' administration.
However, the
campaign continued with the cooperation of the federal and provincial government
and private sector organisations. The area people hired heavy machinery for
removal of garbage from the sewerage and rain drain lines while a large number
of people registered complaints about the unhygienic atmosphere in their
localities.
Provincial ministers Muhammad Hussain, Shoaib Bukhari, Rauf Siddiqi, advisers Mumtaz Hameed, Manzoor Hussain, MNAs and MPAs monitored the campaign.
According to party the workers also removed the trees and signboards and helped the area people to get power supply restored.
Cleanliness
drive in Landhi, Korangi
Farooq
condemns town administrations' apathetic attitude
The News
17 July 2003
By our correspondent
KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement has started its weeklong cleanliness drive at Landhi and Korangi areas removing thousands of tonnes of garbage from sewerage and drainage lines and from the streets on Wednesday.
The campaign
continued despite heavy rains on Wednesday and large number of party workers,
supporters including the party leaders, ministers, senators, MNAs, MPAs and area
people participated in the campaign.
Party leaders, ministers and advisors also visited different areas to monitor the campaign work. Hundreds of trucks and other heavy vehicles were being used for lifting garbage, cleaning sewerage and rainwater from streets, grounds and parks.
The Muttahida had set up camps in the area for area people to register their complaints about the unhygienic and unhealthy condition of their localities.
Medical and
other wings of the party had also set up relief camps in the areas, while a
large number of police personnel were deployed for maintaining law and order
situation during the cleanliness drive.
Talking to newsmen at a Landhi camp, campaign leader Dr Farooq Sattar expressed concern over the attitude of the Towns' Nazims and administration for non co-operation in the cleanliness drive.
He said that according to the Sindh Local Government Ordinance (SLGO), it was the responsibility of town administrations to provide basic civic facilities to the people but unfortunately they failed to fulfil their responsibilities, which finally compelled the Muttahida to initiate a cleanliness drive, he added.
Dr Farooq
Sattar who was recently elected from the area as MNA said that the towns
administrations had even suspended their routine work on the instructions of the
towns' Nazims and locked the workshops where trucks, dump trucks and other
garbage lifting vehicles were parked, while the sanitary staff of both the
Landhi and Korangi Town's were also sent on forced leave for seven days.
He said that people of the area also condemned the attitude of the town administrations and Nazims for getting into politics just to protect vested interests. He said that this act of the Towns' Nazims proved their political immaturity and lack of interest in resolving the problems of the poor people.
He appreciated
the federal and provincial governments, departments, private sector, traders and
industrialists for co-operation and for providing vehicles and manpower for the
campaign.
Former city mayor, who also served as local government minister termed the attitude of the towns' Nazims as an act to sabotage the efforts being made to provide basic civic facilities to the people.
The Muttahida MNA said that it was a criminal act, unethical and a violation of SLGO-2000 and demanded of the chief minister and provincial administration to take action against the towns' Nazims and administrations for violating the rules and law.
He advised the
officials of the towns' administrations not to become partners to the politics
of the towns' Nazims and redress the problems of the people, as it was their
legal and moral responsibility.
MINISTER LOCAL GOVERNMENT: Talking to newsmen, Provincial Minister for Local Government Muhammad Hussain said that under the SLGO-2000, it was mandatory of the town and district administrations to follow the policies, guidelines and instructions of the provincial government.
He said that the attitude of the towns' Nazims and administrations was a clear violation of the Section 127 and 128 of the SLGO 2000 and the government had taken serious notice of the violation. He said that the provincial government had issued warning to both the town administrations for negligence and ignoring the policies of the provincial government.
Talking to
newsmen, Advisor to chief minister on Home Affairs Aftab Shaikh said that he was
satisfied with the performance of the police force during the by-election. He
said that an additional police force would be provided for maintaining law and
order situation during the cleanliness drive.
ALTAF: Leader of Muttahida Qaumi Movement Altaf Hussain has also appealed to the area people to participate in the campaign and co-operate with the party workers. He said that his party believed in serving people and resolution of their problems.
He pointed out that the Muttahida had distributed relief goods and provide free medical aid to the people and now the party had decided to clean the Landhi and Korangi areas.
Muttahida to start cleanliness drive in Landhi, Korangi
The News
17 July 2003
By our correspondent
KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement has announced a weeklong cleanliness campaign in Landhi and Korangi from July 16 to 22 and appealed to the area people to cooperate with the party in the cleanliness and beautification programme.
Announcing the party programme at a press conference at Karachi Press Club on Tuesday, the party leaders Dr Farooq Sattar and Nasreen Jalil said that Muttahida leaders, workers, supporters and area people would participate in the cleanliness drive 'Week for Citizens' Service'.
The Muttahida
leaders said that the area people needed healthy and clean atmosphere and the
party would purge the area of garbage dumps, clean the rain drainage system and
launch tree plantation drive for the beautification of Landhi and Korangi.
Dr Farooq Sattar and Nasreen Jalil said that the area was neglected during the last eleven years and people were drinking contaminated water and living in unhygienic atmosphere. They further said that the sewerage system had collapsed and gutters were overflowing on the streets while garbage dumps were also seen all over the locality.
They said that
sewerage and drinking water were mixed in many areas, which created life threat
to the area people. The Muttahida leaders said that the governor Sindh had
helped in getting Rs 100m from the federal government for the development of the
area and this amount was being spent for the improvement of water supply
schemes, sewerage system, construction of roads and improving the condition of
the educational institutions and hospitals.
They said that there was a plan to beautify the area and parks and appealed to the area people to ensure that they kept their streets and area of garbage and construction materials. Dr Farooq Sattar, who led the campaign, also appealed to the town and city district governments for cooperation in cleanliness drive of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement. He hoped that the town and local bodies administration would not create hurdle in the campaign as it was in the interest of the citizens.
To a question the Muttahida MNA said that the party would launch cleanliness drive all over the city after this campaign. To another question the MNA said that without provincial autonomy the system of the KESC distribution could not improve. Party MPAs Faisal Sabzwari and Jarar Rizvi were also present.
Cleanliness drive in Landhi, Korangi begins today
The Dawn
17 July 2003
By Our Reporter
KARACHI, July 15: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement has decided to observe a week of
cleanliness and revamping of civic facilities from June 16 in Landhi and
Korangi.
This was stated by Mrs Nasreen Jaleel, deputy convener of the MQM coordination
committee in a news conference at the Karachi Press Club on Tuesday. She said
that the civic facilities had been at a halt since the operation of June 1992
against the party. The news conference was also addressed by MQM's MNA Dr Farooq
Sattar.
The decision was taken in the backdrop of several water borne deaths following
the reports about collapse of sewerage and water system in Landhi and Korangi
areas.
During the week-long campaign of cleanliness, to be led by Dr Farooq Sattar,
heap of filth would be removed from various places besides clearing the choked
water pipelines. Repair of broken sewerage and water supply system would also be
undertaken. Moreover, the entire area would be sprayed to prevent the spread of
malaria and other diseases. The campaign would also include adoption and
development of parks in the area.
Explaining salient features of the MQM's "Civic Services Week", Mrs
Jaleel pointed out that following the military operation of June 19, 1992,
development work in Landhi, Korangi, Malir, Shah Faisal Colony had been stopped
and civic infrastructure was devastated.
During the last 11 years, she said, water supply and sewerage systems were
completely destroyed and the problems were compounded further by the alleged
terrorist activities of the Haqiqi activists.
She pointed out that recently the governor had approved Rs100 million for
various development schemes in the hitherto neglected area. In addition, the
MQM's elected representatives had initiated the wok of replacing the dilapidated
sewerage and water pipelines to provide relief to the harassed people of the
locality.
Asked whether the campaign would be financed from the fund provided by the Sindh
governor, Dr Sattar said that the projects which would be financed by the amount
provided by the governor had already been identified. He said that arrangements
were being made through the local government ministry and the cooperation of the
city and town governments had also been sought.
To another question, Dr Sattar admitted that he was not sure as to what extent
the local governments would cooperate with the provincial government in this
campaign. However, he expressed hope that as the matter was related to the
betterment of Karachi and its people, everyone would play his due role
positively.
He said that unutilized fund, which was at the disposal of the previous MNA, had
been transferred to non-lapseable fund and hinted that it might be available
during the campaign.
Dr Sattar told a questioner that after the success of this campaign, similar
exercise could be undertaken in other parts of the city and the province.
When he was questioned that the planned week-long campaign tantamount to
encroach upon the jurisdiction of the city government, Dr Sattar made it clear
that such human issues should not be politicised and refused to be dragged into
a controversy.
The MQM's MNA elected from NA-255, Dr Farooq Sattar, vowed to work for middle
class revolution by involving them in the decision making authorities and in
addressing the basic problems of the masses.
He expressed hope that the area residents, who he claimed had been emancipated
after 11 years of brutalization, would also play their role in the
rehabilitation of services. He said that women had very important role to play
in the overall development of the country.
He said that the elimination of feudalism was the ultimate goal of the MQM and
added that the demand for provincial autonomy was aimed at strengthening the
provinces and the country.
He claimed that by accepting the autonomy demand of the provinces, the feeling
of alienation would be removed.