strongly criticizes the OPP government for killing people by heavy traffic, street criminals and people falling into man holes
JI holds sit-in at 13 different locations in Karachi against growing lawlessness. Photo: PPI
KARACHI:
Jamaat-e-Islami local chapter held sit-ins in 13 major locations in Karachi against the killing of citizens on an almost daily basis in accidents, street crimes, and manholes turned into death traps.
The protesters, carrying placards and banners, shouted slogans against the lawlessness further exacerbated by corruption and mismanagement on the part of the PPP government in Sindh.
Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi Ameer Monem Zafar Khan held a press conference at Idara Noor-e-Haq, JI Karachi headquarters, to press the issues and later addressed the participants in a sit-in.
He mentioned that 254 people were killed and 12,000 others injured this year by the heavy traffic.
He added that similarly, 25 citizens were shot dead by robbers and 24 citizens – including children – lost their lives after falling into sewers and open drains.
“Despite all this, the sole focus of the Sindh government seems to be on issuing e-challans,” he noted.
He said Pakistan Peoples Party’s mindset is feudal and landlord-driven and its 17-year rule represents the worst combination of incompetence, corruption and bad governance. He highlighted that the PPP-led Sindh government destroyed all institutions in Karachi and seized control of its resources, leaving the city hostage to a corrupt system.
“Our demands are clear,” he said, adding, “protect citizens from heavy traffic and armed criminals, free business from extortion, restore Karachi’s infrastructure and regulate heavy traffic.”
“After suffering billions of rupees in losses during the rains, traders are now being openly asked for extortion – demands of up to Rs50 million,” he alleged.
He also accused land grabbers of occupying plots with fake allotments in areas including Baldia Town, Surjani Town, Punjab Colony, Delhi Colony, Hawkesbay, Taiser Town and Scheme 33, claiming that such activities could not continue without the patronage of the Sindh government.
He questioned the use of surveillance technology, saying that drones and cameras do not detect street criminals but issue e-challans and deliver them to citizens’ homes. He noted that Karachi, the country’s largest city, requires 15,000 buses, yet only 400 have been provided by the Sindh government over the past 17 years.
He also criticized delays in projects like the Red Line BRT and the Karimabad underpass, saying no completion dates were announced.
Protest meetings were held at Kala Board National Highway, Tibet Center (MA Jinnah Road), Dawood Chowrangi, Korangi Crossing, Power House Chowrangi (North Karachi), University Road (Met office), Dolmen Mall Hyderi (Sher Shah Suri Road), Liaquatabad No. 10, Orangi No. Super Highway.
