QUETTA - Opposition leaders alongwith Councillors have alleged that misappropriation and financial corruption was being committed in Quetta Metropolitan Corporation in the name of paid parking and issuance of birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates.
Talking to journalists at Quetta Press Club here, Opposition leader in the Quetta Metropolitan Corporation, Muhammad Raheem Kakar, the Deputy Opposition leader, Khuda Bakhsh Lehri alongwith Councillors including Haji Sarwar Bazai, Malik Anayat Kasi and others alleged that citizens of Quetta were forced to pay bribe to the staff concerned through agents at Quetta Metropolitan Corporation for getting birth, death, Nikah and Talaaq certificates.
"People are being looted by agents to get birth, death, Nikah and Talaaq certificates at Quetta Metropolitan Corporation as they are forced to pay bribe to the agents and staff concerned, otherwise, their applications in this regard are put in pending for months," they alleged.
They alleged that extortion was being collected from people in the name of paid parking on about all important City arteries of Quetta City, adding, that which have been causing quarrels and scuffles.
They said that wide roads of Quetta City has been turned into narrow streets on the pretext of paid parking, car parking, motorcycle and bicycle parking.
They further alleged that decision to demolish mutton market of Mizan Chowk, construction of two flowers shops within the Quetta Metropolitan Corporation and allotment of the corporation's property were made without the approval and permission of the Council of the Corporation.
The Opposition leaders alleged that building code was being violated in the City in connivance with some black sheep in the corporation. They levelled allegations that bribe was being received for giving permission for construction of illegal multi-story buildings.
Deputy Mayor Quetta Metropolitan Corporation, Muhammad Younas Lehri, rejected the allegations of taking extortion from the citizens in the name of paid parking. He said that few people were opposing paid parking as it was first time introduced in this City.
He said that police officials had told him that incidents of car lifting and bike lifting have reduced after paid parking was introduced in the metropolis.
"Eighty percent decline in ratio of crime of car and bike lifting had been reported in Quetta city after paid parking system was implemented," he said.
Deputy Mayor said that although, some difficulties were reported when robes were installed on roads for paid parking, adding, that the City would have two to three large size parking lots soon which would resolve the complaints against paid parking.
"We will remove robes from roads after large size parking lots are constructed in the City," he said.
He denied allegations against the staff of the Metropolitan Corporation regarding taking bribe for issuance of birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates.
"Nobody is involved in taking bribe in the name of issuance of such certificates," he said.
In replying to a question, he said that the issue of construction of two flower shops in the Metropolitan Corporation and allotment of the metropolitan's property would be put before the council of the corporation.
"We will get approval and permission of the council on every step and measure being taken by the Metropolitan Corporation Quetta," he said.