KARACHI: Mayor Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab clarified on Monday that not a single inch of Hill Park’s land has been allocated or leased to anyone, firmly stating that the iconic park remains the sole property of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC).
Addressing a press conference in the metropolis, the Mayor strongly dismissed recent rumors regarding the alleged encroachment and illegal occupation of Hill Park land—an issue that had sparked protests by local residents over the past few days.
“Hill Park was, is, and will always remain the property of KMC,” Wahab asserted, aiming to dispel the growing public anxiety.
Eid-ul-Adha Waste Management Statistics
During the presser, Mayor Wahab also shared details regarding the city’s waste management operations during Eid-ul-Adha. He highlighted that a massive cleanliness drive was successfully executed, noting that 81,525 tons of animal offal were safely transported to designated landfill sites during the festive days, while a grand total of 88,436 tons of animal waste and garbage were disposed of overall during the cleanliness campaign.
Crackdown on Disruption
The Mayor revealed that the administration faced resistance from elements trying to sabotage the Eid cleanup operations. Consequently, authorities took strict legal action, resulting in 40 First Information Reports (FIRs) registered against disruptors and 14 individuals arrested for interfering with municipal duties.
He added that a direct helpline was provided to citizens to lodge complaints. Over the course of four days, the helpline received 1,333 complaints, with the municipal staff successfully resolving 90% of the grievances to provide timely relief to Karachiites.
Political Jab at MQM
Taking a swipe at the leadership of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Wahab criticized the politics of division, stating that “the politics of hides and bodies has severely damaged Karachi in the past.” He urged all stakeholders to avoid divisive politics and prioritize public interest.
In a lighter but sarcastic tone, the Mayor tweaked a famous Urdu couplet to take a dig at MQM leaders Waseem Akhtar and Farooq Sattar, saying:
“Pata pata, boota boota, haal hamara jaane hai… Jaane na jaane, Waseem aur Farooq hi na jaane hai.” (The whole city knows our efforts, but Waseem and Farooq choose to remain oblivious).
