A multi-party conference (APC) convened by the SINDH government to tackle the increasing number of traffic accidents in Karachi ended with a unanimous decision to keep the issue apolitical, Express News reported.
Larger stakeholders, including political parties and transport representatives, agreed that accidents should not be politicized while pressing for compensation for the victims’ families.
The conference held at the directives of Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah was attended by representatives from Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Awami National Party (ANP) and the president of dumps Association.
Sindh’s Senior Minister Sharjeel Memon, who approached a joint press conference after the meeting, stated that all stakeholders agreed that traffic accidents should not be used for political point scoring.
He emphasized that carriers had also shared their concerns and all participants reached a consensus that road safety should be treated through concrete measures rather than political rhetoric.
With reference to a recent fatal accident in the Chowrangi prison, involving a water tanker, Memon confirmed that the responsible driver had been arrested.
He emphasized the need to prevent similar events and warned against political maneuver about such tragedies and said that external forces could exploit the situation.
“We all agree that accidents should not be politicized. Instead, solutions must be sought through political improvements and law enforcement, ”he added.
MQM-P, JI and ANP demand for compensation
MQM-P leader Farooq Sattar emphasized the human costs of traffic accidents and called for immediate financial relief for the victims’ families.
“This is not a political question, but a humanitarian crisis,” he said. “We must send a strong message to the deprived families that we stand with them. Governments must take responsibility and have been preventive measures in the past, such tragedies could have been avoided, ”he added.
Sattar also called for a high -level investigative commission to investigate traffic accidents and improve enforcement. He assured that MQM-P is against violence and vandalism and called on the authorities to maintain their writing to prevent public indignation from escalating in lawlessness.
Representatives of Jamaat-e-Islami repeated the demand for compensation and suggested that each victim’s family receive RS10 million as financial relief. They emphasized that traffic regulation errors should be treated administratively without political interference.
Anp Sindh -President Shahi Syed pointed out that traffic accidents occur nationwide, not only in Karachi, and called for a detailed report on accident trends. He emphasized that governance must be governed by law and order, not political agendas.
According to a police report presented during the conference, seven percent of Karachi’s accidents involve dumpers, causing calls for stricter monitoring of heavy vehicle operations.
The President of Transports’ Association rejected claims that many drivers are driving vehicles under drug influence and stated that not all dumpers are responsible for accidents. He called for equal treatment under the law and rejected the portrayal of carriers as part of a mafia.
“We pay taxes, we are not criminals. The law must be applied fairly to everyone, ”he claimed.
The conference ended with a promise to enforce stricter road safety measures, improve driving training and review traffic laws to prevent further loss of life.
