An interview with PPP Senator Syed Waqar Mehdi

Q. What is your assessment about the upcoming LG polls, which party will dominate them and who will be the runner-up?

Syed Waqar Mehdi: All parties would claim that they will get the top slot in the elections, but PPP will secure victory on the basis of its performance.

If you remember, the PPP won the Clifton, Malir and Manora cantonment boards in 2006. These cantonment areas don’t come under the municipal limits and local population of these areas are known to be under the influence of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. But still we secured these three cantonments..

We have performed well in Karachi and on the basis of our work, we think we will get the top slot.  I think Muttahida Qaumi Movement will be runners up in the local bodies’ polls followed by PTI and Jamaat-e-Islami.

Q. Will your party be able to elect the mayor of Karachi, or do you see a political alliance with any other party?

SWM: I’m confident that we will get a clear majority in the elections and will be able to elect our mayor and deputy mayor as well.

Yes, if there’s a need for political alliance with another political party, we will definitely engage in the dialogue and enter into a political alliance for the greater cause of the city.

Q. What is the most pressing issue that Karachi is facing today and what will be your priorities if you win the elections?

SWM: Our top priority will be to improve the supply and distribution of water in Karachi.  To improve and resolve the water issue, we will push for the completion of the existing water schemes and work on the new schemes to improve the water supply to this mega city.

Three districts of Kemari, South and Malir borders the sea. We have promised de-salination plants in these districts and after coming to power in the local bodies elections, we will push to deliver on our promises. These plants would have the capacity to purify and supply around 1200 to 1300 MGD of water daily.

Karachi is growing vertically; we plan to give a 50-year master plan for the city.  At the moment all towns have been mandated to collect property taxes and a reasonable amount of revenue shall be collected by these towns. These towns will then be independent in using this revenue for improving the roads networking, garbage lifting and cleanliness respectively. We also intend to further improve the solid waste management department.

Another one of our main priority would be the revival of the Karachi Circular Railway r at the earliest, so that the massive transport issues are resolved.  We have already introduced Peoples bus service and today, for the first time in Pakistan, we have introduced electric bus service with only Rs 50 rupees fare.

Q. Are you concerned about a possible law and order situation on the polling day?

SWM: Small incidents always occur in the elections, but if all political parties follow the code of conduct there will be no law-and-order issue on the polling day.

The ECP should ensure absolutely fair elections and should install CCTV cameras at the polling stations so that any wrong doing is monitored and subsequently discouraged.

I can assure you that the PPP would not indulge into any kind of wrongdoing or violence.