By Ahsan Mughal
KARACHI: On Tuesday, a large number of Karachiites, including neighbors, social activists, and political workers, gathered at NIPA to protest against the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government and the city’s mayor, Murtaza Wahab, over the death of three-year-old Ibrahim in a manhole tragedy.
The demonstration, organized under the banner of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi, saw protesters carrying placards and banners, chanting slogans against the PPP government, and calling for the mayor’s resignation.
JI Karachi deputy chief and opposition leader in the city council, Saifuddin Advocate, addressing the gathering, said, “Karachi has been bleeding for a long time. Another innocent life was lost in the latest tragedy.”
He demanded that those responsible, directly or indirectly, be named in the FIR and called on the chief minister to take strict action against the culprits. “The killing of children in Karachi’s manholes has become the new normal, and that is totally unacceptable,” he said.
Saifuddin Advocate criticized the mayor, saying, “University Road, the nullah, the sewerage lines, and the manholes are all the responsibility of the Karachi Municipal Corporation headed by Mayor Murtaza Wahab.” He accused the mayor of being unreachable for 12 hours after the tragedy, only to be spotted the next day inaugurating a heating system in a swimming pool.
He further alleged that the PPP was facilitating feudal interests to maintain control over the city’s and province’s resources, and demanded the immediate removal of the “paratrooper” mayor of Karachi. “The mayor should have accepted his responsibility instead of playing the blame game. His response shows how visionless the PPP leadership is,” he added.
Saifuddin Advocate vowed, “We will not let this death go in vain,” urging Karachiites to unite for the sake of future generations. He claimed that billions of rupees had been embezzled over the past 17 years under PPP rule.
JI District East chief Naeem Akhtar expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, noting that while Mayor Wahab claimed to oversee 106 roads, University Road remains a prime thoroughfare neglected under his tenure. He criticized the BRT project, stating it would only benefit six percent of commuters along the route to Tower, and accused the PPP of delaying the project for financial gain.
Town Chairmen Dr Fawad Ahmed and Vice Chairman Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town Ibrahim Siddiqui also addressed the protesters, highlighting the poor condition of roads and demanding accountability for public safety.
