The JI organizes a demonstration and asks the mayor to resign following the death of a three-year-old child following a fall in a manhole
Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab. Photo: File
Two separate petitions were filed on Tuesday in the district court and the East District Sessions Judge, seeking registration of a criminal case against senior civic officials, including Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, over the death of a three-year-old boy who fell into a drain near Nipa.
In a petition, lawyer Abdul Ahad said the child, Ibrahim, died after slipping into an uncovered manhole and alleged that the negligence of the municipal and district administration was directly responsible for the tragedy. He said Ibrahim’s family had repeatedly complained about the uncovered manhole, but authorities had failed to secure the area. “The bereaved family also blamed the authorities for failing to secure the area despite repeated complaints from the public,” the petition said.
The filing further states that no official rescue team arrived in time, forcing the family to hire a private search party and spend Rs 15,000 to recover the boy’s body. The petition claimed that the citizens of Karachi “continue to pay the price for the alleged incompetence and corruption of civic agencies” and asked the court to order the police to register an FIR against the mayor, city chairman of Gulshan-e-Iqbal and other officials.
In another plea, lawyer Sheikh Saqib Ahmed also held the city’s top civic leaders responsible, saying Ibrahim’s death was the result of “culpable negligence” on the part of the mayor and other officials. He requested the court to order registration of a criminal case for negligence resulting in loss of innocent life. The court is expected to consider both requests in the coming days.
Meanwhile, a protest was held on Tuesday in Nipa Chowrangi following the death of three-year-old Ibrahim, drawing widespread criticism against the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, the mayor and the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation.
The protest, led by Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi deputy Ameer and KMC opposition leader Saifuddin’s lawyer, condemned the government’s indifference and alleged incompetence of the KMC and KWSC.
Addressing the gathering, advocate Saifuddin said that provision of manhole covers is the responsibility of the KMC and the Water Corporation. He demanded the resignation of Mayor Wahab, holding him responsible for the incident.
Protesters held banners and placards with slogans such as “Resign Mayor Murtaza Wahab”, “Don’t turn the city into a cemetery” and “Put covers on the manholes or go home”. A banner carried Ibrahim’s photo with the words: “From whose hands should I seek my blood?”
Speakers accused the mayor of blaming city presidents instead of accepting responsibility. They criticized the government for failing to act quickly, pointing out that while the city was in mourning, the mayor was inaugurating a heating system for a swimming pool. Saifuddin alleged that only 25 manhole covers were provided to a union council, when thousands were needed, and insisted that it was not the responsibility of city or UC chairmen to arrange the covers from their own budgets.
East District’s Ameer Naeem Akhtar, Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town President Dr Fawad, Vice President Ibrahim Siddiqui and other leaders also spoke at the protest. They said Karachi’s infrastructure was crumbling, with poor roads, unsafe pedestrian zones and stalled projects. Dr Fawad highlighted repeated accidents on the BRT Red Line, calling them a “death trap” and demanding an audit and investigation into the project.
Akhtar condemned the Nipa tragedy as “beyond words” and demanded strict punishment for those responsible. He said despite billions spent on development, Karachi continues to suffer while projects move forward in other cities. He stressed that empowering elected officials is the only way to solve the city’s problems.
