Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi Ameer Monem Zafar has asserted that the party will not allow external forces to seize Karachi’s resources, which he claims rightfully belong to the city’s residents. Zafar made these remarks during a media address at a ceremony celebrating the JI’s developmental achievements in nine towns under its jurisdiction.
During the event, Zafar highlighted the JI’s significant contributions over the past ten months, stating that the party restored over 100 parks, installed 40,000 street lights, upgraded 31 public sector schools, covered 4,600 sewerage holes, cleared 72,500 feet of sewerage lines, provided water supply to 1,200 households, and reconstructed 21,720,000 square feet of roads.
He emphasized that more than Rs270 million had been allocated to enhance the water supply and sewerage systems, despite these being provincial responsibilities. Zafar criticized the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) for what he termed a betrayal of Karachi and its residents. He noted that despite the PPP’s long-standing rule of 16 years in the province, there has been little tangible improvement in Karachi’s infrastructure or services. Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi Ameer Monem Zafar argued that while construction is fundamentally a local government issue, the PPP has diverted resources to an authority known as CLICK, which he accused of failing to deliver on its promises, particularly regarding the K4 water supply project that has lingered incomplete for 19 years.
“The roads built by CLICK couldn’t withstand even a single rain,” Zafar remarked, pointing to the systemic corruption and ineffectiveness within the current governance framework as factors exacerbating Karachi’s challenges. He expressed his commitment to continue advocating for the rights of Karachiites and assured that the JI would persist in its efforts to address their grievances. Saifuddin Advocate, the opposition leader in the city council, echoed Zafar’s sentiments, pledging to transform the nine towns managed by the JI into exemplary models of development.
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi Ameer Monem Zafar stated that while the JI would not simply lament the lack of devolved powers, it would continue its fight to ensure adherence to Article 140-A of the Constitution, which mandates the devolution of powers to local governments.
