By Ahsan Mughal
KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi Ameer Monem Zafar Khan warned on Sunday that the city was in a state of crisis, with civic problems left unresolved and authorities displaying complete negligence.
Speaking at a press conference at Idara Noor-e-Haq, the JI Karachi headquarters, he said widespread corruption and poorly executed projects by the PPP government had pushed Karachi to the edge of destruction.
Zafar highlighted the deteriorating state of the city’s roads and criticized the BRT Red Line project, which he said was costing citizens their lives. The project, which began in 2022 and was scheduled for completion in 2024, had now been extended to 2026. Even its 26.5 km stretch remained far from completion after several years.
The JI Karachi chief accused authorities of digging up major intersections without planning or providing proper alternative routes, leaving hundreds of thousands of students on University Road to suffer daily delays. Criticizing the PPP government further, he said governance amounted to little more than rhetoric, while real powers were never devolved.
Zafar cited the mayor’s claim to make roads usable within 60 days, adding that it remained unclear when those 60 days would begin. He said overflowing sewage lines, pothole-ridden roads, and the collapse of basic services reflected the city’s neglected infrastructure. By contrast, he said, Jamaat-e-Islami had installed thousands of manhole covers in two years through self-help initiatives, demonstrating that progress was possible when intentions were genuine.
Zafar also criticized the handling of land-grab incidents in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, the NEPA tragedy, and the destruction of Clifton parks, asserting that JI had stood with citizens throughout. He announced that following a massive public gathering from November 21 to 23, the party planned to intensify its struggle for Karachi’s rights.
A Charter of Karachi would be introduced to tackle corruption, injustice, and the land-grab mafia, alongside a comprehensive revival plan for the city. The JI leader condemned ongoing construction projects, including the Gulistan-e-Johar underpass, which he said were causing extreme hardship.
The JI Karachi chief accused the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation of poor performance despite receiving billions in funding and criticized K-Electric for extracting additional funds from citizens without improving services. He said the first phase of the $1.6 billion KWSSIP project had delivered no visible relief, while the K-IV augmentation project had worsened the city’s water and sewerage problems.
Zafar cited further delays in the Karimabad underpass, which had been pending for three years with costs tripling, while University Road businesses collapsed amid heavy traffic. He accused the KMC of abandoning work on North Karachi’s 7000 Road despite collecting cutting fees and highlighted the deplorable state of Jehangir Road as a reflection of misplaced administrative priorities.
The JI Karachi chief demanded that the provincial transport minister, Sindh government, and the mayor explain how long the destruction of the city would continue. Zafar warned that 24 children had died this year falling into open manholes, with fatalities increasing annually. Only 300–350 buses operated in a city of 35 million, while announcements of new pink buses, scooters, and double-deckers failed to materialize.
The JI Karachi chief said traffic accidents had claimed over 250 young lives this year alone, with the city effectively held hostage by dumper, trailer, and tanker mafias. Zafar also criticised electricity outages of 14–18 hours in many areas, saying that despite earning billions, K-Electric left the city in darkness, including police stations.
Zafar accused the provincial government of pursuing commercialization and land-grabbing agendas, citing attempts to seize Karachi University land and take over the Chemical & Biological Center, while political appointees from interior Sindh were placed in KMC hospitals and public universities were set up for failure.
The JI Karachi chief condemned the land-grab mafia operating across Clifton under the mayor’s patronage, noting that walls of parks—including Umar Sharif Park and Beach View—were being demolished for encroachment. Zafar said Jamaat-e-Islami remained the only party standing with citizens, restoring parks and installing 35,000 manhole covers through community efforts.
