The standoff between the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) escalated in Karachi after Mayor Murtaza Wahab warned of action against printing presses producing banners linked to the opposition’s campaign.

The warning came amid JI’s “Haq Do Karachi Ko” drive, under which banners and messages have been placed across the city highlighting issues such as sanitation and infrastructure.

The PPP-led city administration, however, views these tactics as “unlawful and disruptive”, as  said by Wahab on Wednesday, arguing that the banners not only violate regulations but also undermine efforts to maintain order and cleanliness in public spaces.

“I am noticing banners put up on specific traffic signals across the city,” Wahab said while speaking to reporters at the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) headquarters.

“There is a slogan ‘clean Karachi’ and below it is written Jamaat-i-Islami. I would like to ask that if you go out on the streets and put up banners, will that clean the city? If you paste posters on clean walls, will that make the city clean,” he said.

“I am seriously considering holding a meeting with the city administration that all printing presses involved in producing such banners should be sealed. This is not a lawful advertisement and action should be taken against anyone engaged in illegal activity,” he added.

The mayor also termed the JI “hypocrites”, alleging that the party was taking credit for development work carried out by the KMC in different areas.

JI has increased its visibility campaign in recent days, focusing on civic issues, while the city administration has maintained that such methods disrupt order and violate rules governing public displays.

Earlier, the mayor distributed electric bikes to members of the KMC vigilance squad, saying that the initiative was aimed at monitoring illegal activities, including unauthorised installations and damage to public infrastructure.