JEDDAH, 27 August 2007 — A mass transport system is the answer to Karachi’s growing traffic woes and the sooner it is implemented the better, said Naimatullah Khan, former nazim (mayor) of Karachi, who is visiting the Kingdom to perform Umrah.
Khan also told reporters that during his tenure as nazim, President Pervez Musharraf appreciated his work, which was aimed at improving the city, laying new roads, overhauling the sewage system and streamlining the water distribution system to provide piped drinking water in all areas.
“I had a vision for the city. I wanted Karachi to be completely transformed into a modern city, but unfortunately I failed to get the federal government’s support to complete my projects… I had 50-60 projects in the pipeline which the new nazim… is following up,” said Khan.
“Making flyovers was in my plan. In my four-year tenure, I built three flyovers; renovated 3,500 primary and secondary schools. The development of public parks were also one of my top priorities,” said Khan, who contributed to the leadership of Jamaat-e-Islami for 10 years before being elected mayor. He added that the Jamaat has been carrying out excellent work across the entire Muslim world.
Speaking about the current situation in Pakistan, which has been marked with the reinstatement of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, Khan lauded the country’s lawyers for their determination and urged political parties to learn lessons from them. Asked about the Jamaat’s participation in the forthcoming election, Khan is fully confident of his party’s victory in Sindh province.
On his selection, he said, the Jamaat does not distribute tickets to its members. “We’ve got our Shoura that decides all matters and everybody has to abide to the decision,” he said.
Jamaat-e-Islami is the only party in Pakistan to hold a general election among members, Khan added.
Meanwhile, Khan, while addressing a community meeting in Aziziyah, was grilled by members of the Pakistan Repatriation Council for his comments on stranded Pakistanis in Bangladesh. In his comments, Khan undermined charitable organizations, who are helping stranded Pakistanis in Bangladesh.
During the meeting, Khan denied the existence of 66 camps in Bangladesh, adding that permission is needed for charitable activity and that in 36 years the structure of camps has changed and that the existence of 66 camps is incorrect.
Khan said so-called “helpers” just go there for media coverage and photo ops in the guise of visiting camps and extending help.
“The community is truly upset at the remarks by the former nazim,” said Ehsanul Haque, the convener of PRC, adding that if Jamaat/Khidmat were unable to extend any assistance, it should not undermine other organizations that are trying to help.
