Mayor Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab on Sunday leveled sharp criticism against political opponents, accusing them of “sheer hypocrisy” for failing to initiate development projects despite possessing crores of rupees in available funds. During an event in North Nazimabad, the mayor specifically challenged Jamaat-e-Islami to present a public account of property and advertisement tax collections and to fulfill the promises made to citizens.
The mayor”s remarks were made while inaugurating the repair of internal roads, rehabilitation of storm-water drains, and other development initiatives in North Nazimabad Block F. He was accompanied by City Council Deputy Parliamentary Leader Jaman Darwan, Dil Muhammad, and other elected officials.
Barrister Wahab asserted that excuses regarding a lack of resources are no longer acceptable and called for those without the “will and capacity to work” to step aside. He revealed that an audit was initiated into the twelve lakh rupees allocated to Union Committees specifically to determine why the funds were not utilized for their intended development purposes.
He further condemned the practice of taking money for road cutting and then failing to restore the infrastructure, calling it an “injustice to the public.”
Contrasting his administration”s approach, Mayor Wahab stated their objective, guided by the manifesto of Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, is to deliver tangible results rather than engage in “ribbon-cutting ceremonies and press conferences.” He criticized certain parties for focusing on sit-ins and political point-scoring instead of resolving neighborhood-level issues.
“We are not here to unveil plaques; we are here on the completion of projects that were initiated,” he said.
Detailing the newly completed projects in the area, he noted that the Pakistan Peoples Party had invested ten crore rupees to construct internal streets, install over two hundred thousand square feet of paver blocks, and overhaul a severely damaged sewerage system.
Emphasizing a belief in “work, not publicity,” the mayor declared he is the “lawful and elected Mayor” and that his hoardings will not be seen around the city. He accused those who “spread despair” of waiting for accidents to exploit them for political gain, while affirming that every PPP worker is engaged in public service.
The mayor also highlighted several large-scale infrastructure projects, noting that the Chief Minister of Sindh has been personally reviewing their progress. These include the four-lane bridge on Korangi Causeway, expected to open by January 2026; a new underpass on Shahrah-e-Bhutto; and a flyover and bridge at Murghi Khana.
He mentioned the Red Line project and the Mina Bazaar underpass, which is slated for completion by the end of January. In a separate line of inquiry, Mayor Wahab questioned the collection of parking charges at major commercial hubs including Zainab Market, Hyderi Market, Tariq Road, and Bahadurabad, clarifying that the KMC is no longer responsible for collecting these fees.