Removal of political, commercial ads ordered

The City District Government Karachi, in compliance with the decision of the coordination committees of the coalition partners in the Sindh government, has started removing posters, banners, wall chalkings and flags of political parties from government buildings, Pakistan Today has learnt. Sources said that the decision regarding removal of posters, banners, graffiti and flags of political parties across the city was taken the previous night in a meeting that was presided over by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah. The leaders of the ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and its coalition partners in the government – the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Awami National Party (ANP) – attended the meeting and agreed on a proposal in this regard, the sources added.
They said that the city government and the town administrations have started removing all types of graffiti, banners and flags of political parties, and posters from government properties and buildings. However, this action would not be applicable to offices of the political parties or private residences, they added. Moreover, the sources went on to say, in accordance with the decision taken by the coalition partners, the city government has also constituted various committees at town level for the removal of banners, flags and posters of political parties, and non-governmental and commercial organisations.
These newly constituted committees have already launched their operations in their respective towns, the sources added. They said that in the next phase of the campaign, all types of banners, posters and flags affixed on electric and other poles along the roads and roundabouts would also be removed. Meanwhile, Karachi Administrator Fazlur Rehman has imposed a ban under Section 144 on wall chalkings and affixing all types of banners, flags and posters across the city, they added. Sources said that the administrator has asked the police to arrest anyone found involved in fixing banners, posters and flags throughout the city and take legal action against such detainees under Section 144. The administrator has also issued orders for better cleanliness and addition of plants and trees to increase greenery in the metropolis, the sources added.