Strongly criticizes the PPP government for the killings of people caused by heavy traffic, street criminals and people falling into manholes
JI stages sit-in in 13 different locations in Karachi against growing lawlessness. Photo: PPI
KARACHI:
The local chapter of Jamaat-e-Islami staged sit-ins in 13 major points of Karachi against the killings of citizens almost daily in accidents, street crimes and manholes turned into death traps.
The protesters, holding placards and banners, chanted slogans against the lawlessness further aggravated by corruption and mismanagement by the PPP government in Sindh.
Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi Ameer Monem Zafar Khan held a press conference at Idara Noor-e-Haq, the headquarters of JI Karachi, to press the issues and later addressed the participants of a sit-in.
He said 254 people have been killed and 12,000 injured this year due to heavy traffic.
He added that similarly, 25 citizens were shot dead by thieves and 24 citizens – including children – lost their lives after falling into manholes or open sewers.
“Despite all this, the only concern of the Sindh government seems to be the issuance of e-challans,” he remarked.
He said the Pakistan People’s Party’s mentality is feudal and landlord-driven, and its 17-year rule represents the worst combination of incompetence, corruption and bad governance. He pointed out that the PPP-led Sindh government destroyed all the institutions of Karachi and took control of its resources, leaving the city hostage to a corrupt system.
“Our demands are clear,” he said, adding: “protect citizens from heavy trafficking and armed criminals, free the business community from extortion, restore Karachi’s infrastructure and regulate heavy trafficking.”
“Having suffered losses worth billions of rupees during the rains, traders are now openly being asked for extortion – demands of up to 50 million rupees,” he claimed.
He also accused land grabbers of occupying plots, with false allotments, in areas such as Baldia Town, Surjani Town, Punjab Colony, Delhi Colony, Hawkesbay, Taiser Town and Project 33, saying such activities could not continue without the patronage of the Sindh government.
Questioning the use of surveillance technology, he said 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, needs 15,000 buses, while only 400 have been provided by the Sindh government in the last 17 years.
He also criticized delays in projects such as the BRT Red Line and the Karimabad underpass, saying no completion date was announced.
Sit-in protests were held at Kala Board National Highway, Tibet Center (MA Jinnah Road), Dawood Chowrangi, Korangi Crossing, Power House Chowrangi (Karachi North), University Road (Met Office), Dolmen Mall Hyderi (Sher Shah Suri Road), Liaquatabad No. 10, Orangi No. 5, Garden Office (Hub River Road), Pracha Chowk (Sher Shah) and Sohrab Goth Great Highway.
