KARACHI: Abrupt postponement of the second phase of local government polls in Sindh is an undemocratic step and a conspiracy against people, said candidates for labour councilor slots flanked by the leaders of National Trade Union Federation (NTUF) and Home Based Women Workers Federation (HBWWF) here Friday.

Addressing a press conference at the Karachi Press Club (KPC), Nasir Mansoor (National Trade Union Federation), Zehra Khan (Home Based Women Workers Federation), Gul Rahman (Worker Rights Movement), Parveen Bano (contesting on General councilor seat from Gadap Town), and others said that keeping suspended local government system in Sindh would result in further damage to the province.

They said they were fighting these polls from labour councilor seats in the megacity as independent candidates despite unfavorable conditions, presenting them as alternate candidates but the Election Commission drone attacked their electoral campaign. They demanded immediate withdrawal of this decision to hold the local government polls as per their original schedule.

They announced a struggle for getting resolved the lingering basic problems of the megacity. They said Karachi generates more tax than any other city of Pakistan. They said the megacity with two ports, one International airport, more than 95 percent foreign trade and half of the local trade, commerce and industry is deprived of even basic civic facilities.

They said the megacity is not getting funds proportionate to its bulging population. Its parks, playgrounds, open spaces and plots for schools and colleges are an easy prey for land mafia backed by local politicians. Its electricity supply system is given to an inexperienced private company plunging the megacity into darkness. Forty percent of the megacity could not get water through pipelines and citizens get water through costly tankers.

They said that the recent rains have exposed the fragile drainage system of the megacity whose natural waterways and Nullahs are either occupied by the land grabbers or filled with garbage. They said efficient public transport entity, Karachi Transport Corporation (KTC) was disbanded and surface railway commuting system KCR was put in limbo.

They said Karachi is perhaps the only megacity of the world that is running without a proper public transport system for last fifty years. They said more than 2.5 Crore citizens of Karachi are left to the mercy of private transporters. They said health and education facilities are in shambles and civic administration system almost nonfunctional.

They said if a democratic and empowered local government system is given to the megacity it would need no any aid or package. They demanded that with consultation of people an empowered democratic system is given to the megacity to directly elect their mayor.

They said as per the directives of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, DHA and cantonment boards should be abolished and the control of whole city should be given to the elected representatives of the megacity. They said that KE and KDA should be given in control of the elected representatives.

They said all citizens should be provided housing facilities as per the constitution. They said all displaced families should be given alternate residence. They demanded that all local government bodies should be empowered. They said the conspiracy to use the issue of civic problems to fan ethnicity and extremist thinking should be foiled through unity and alternative organization of citizens.

They said that every conspiracy against the historical unity of Sindh would be defeated. They demanded elections under proportionate electoral system, while electing labour, women, transgender and minorities representatives through direct elections. They said constituencies should be made as per population and area without any discrimination. They demanded to clean all natural waterways of the city and remove encroachments near the sea.

They demanded overhauling of the public transport system including revival of the KCR and urgent resumption of work on the second phase of Green Line RBT, besides providing Karachi at least 500 public transport buses. They demanded to ensure proper water supply system and establishing parks and playgrounds in every part of the megacity. They said labour laws should be implemented in factories and workplaces and solid steps should be taken for health and safety at workplaces.