By Ahsan Mughal
KARACHI: Afaq Ahmed, Chairman of the Mohajir Qaumi Movement, has called on Karachi’s citizens to take to the streets on April 12 in a peaceful protest against the government’s persistent failure to address critical civic issues. Speaking at a press conference in Karachi, he condemned the authorities for their inaction, particularly regarding the alarming rise in fatal road accidents and the deepening water crisis that continues to plague the city.
Ahmed pointed to the disturbing statistics of traffic-related fatalities, revealing that over 200 people have lost their lives in accidents involving heavy vehicles since January. He did not hold back in his criticism of the Sindh government, accusing it of neglecting the crisis and failing to introduce meaningful reforms. Karachi’s roads, he argued, have become death traps, with reckless driving, weak enforcement of traffic laws, and the unchecked movement of heavy vehicles contributing to the carnage.
Drawing a stark contrast between Karachi and Lahore, he highlighted the latter’s extensive surveillance network, which includes the installation of 8,000 CCTV cameras, significantly easing the burden on traffic police and improving law enforcement. Karachi, he lamented, remains a city where disorder reigns, with an ineffective system incapable of ensuring safety or regulating traffic efficiently. The lack of a modern monitoring mechanism, he argued, reflects the government’s indifference toward the metropolis and its people.
Ahmed also turned his attention to Karachi’s worsening water crisis, a longstanding issue that has left millions struggling for access to clean water. He accused the authorities of deliberately commercializing water supply, turning what should be a basic public service into a lucrative trade. “For the past 30 years, water has been sold in Karachi. Every month, billions of rupees worth of water is being traded,” he said, calling for an immediate overhaul of the system to put an end to this exploitation.
His appeal for public protest underscores the growing frustration among Karachi’s residents, who continue to grapple with deteriorating urban infrastructure and an administration seemingly detached from their plight. With April 12 set as the date for a mass demonstration, it remains to be seen whether the government will respond to the mounting pressure or continue to sideline the demands of the country’s largest city.
