KARACHI: Rangers posted as water protests continue in Lyari
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Nov 13: Fearing spread of agitation in more areas of Lyari, authorities called in Rangers on Wednesday to pre-empt a possible violent reaction from the constantly increasing number of protesters demanding restoration of normal water supply to the town.
The enraged protesters, mainly residents of Baghdadi and Shah Beg Lane union councils, have been staging a sit-in for the last three days near Ali Hotel insisting that their protest would continue till their demand was met.
The concerted efforts by all the concerned elected representatives — MNA-elect, MPA-elect, Nazimeen and others — as well as the local officials of the KWSB and relevant agencies, have failed to persuade the protesters to end their campaign. Rather, groups of angry youth from within the picketers resorted repeatedly to put up barricades and lit bonfire on Monday and Tuesday creating a complete chaos in several localities, including Shah Latif Bhittai Road and some arteries leading to the Kalri police station and adjoining areas.
Tension heightened when the KWSB failed to meet the deadline, set by the protesters, of 11am Wednesday for the restoration of normal water supply to the town. The failure infuriated the water-starved residents who decided to go ahead with their indefinite campaign.
Residents of more localities joined in the sit-in and street demonstrations on Wednesday when the protesters re-emerged at noon on Shah Latif Bhittai Road and raised barricades in the middle of several roads to block vehicular traffic. No commuter from outside the area could get through the road till late in the evening.
The Rangers, keeping their arms in ready position to meet any eventuality, took position around the Ali Hotel roundabout and some of their vehicles were seen patrolling the nearby areas. However, they did not intervene as the protesters confined their agitation to road blockade in certain localities.
The protesters, however, intensified their campaign by blocking part of Fida Husain Sheika Road, Haji Pir Mohammad Road and D. D. Chowdhary Road, all leading to Shah Latif Bhitai Road which is the vital artery linking Lyari Town with the heart of the city, Saddar Town.
The unending sit-in, agitation and road blockade has brought the normal life in the entire Lyari Town to a standstill affecting not only the inhabitants of this town but also the people of all other towns of the city maintaining relations, contacts and business with the Lyariites.
CONTENTION: Briefing about the progress in the talks with the KWSB officials, a representative of the protesters told this reporter that they had reneged from their commitment to restore water supply to the affected areas by 11am Wednesday. The enraged protesters showed a copy of the letter, signed by the Town Nazim and KWSB officials, which read that the normal supply would be restored through the COD 24-inch dia line by 11am Wednesday besides the scheduled share of water to the affected areas. The letter further promised release of additional water to meet the growing need of the consumers. “You may see the contradiction between their words and deeds,” he uttered aggressively adding, “this is their usual practice.”
He was equally critical of the City Nazim’s ‘negative role’ saying that he had least bothered about the residents of Lyari.
Condemning the role of elected representatives he said that if they were not eligible to solve even the basic problems of the people, they do not have a right to remain in their offices.
