KARACHI: The PIB group of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan has warned the federal and provincial governments of lodging strong protests across Sindh if the ongoing power and water crisis in Karachi was not resolved within 72 hours.

Dr Farooq Sattar of the MQM-P’s PIB group gave this warning at a protest demonstration held in front of the Karachi Press Club on Sunday against the prolonged loadshedding by K-Electric.

A number of party workers and elected representatives, including women, gathered outside the press club to lodge their protest against the ongoing electricity crisis as well as an artificial water shortage in the city.

Speaking to protesters, Dr Sattar said that the people of Karachi were being punished because of a tug of war between the K-Electric and the Sui Southern Gas Company over payment of dues.

“Our protest is against the K-Electric, the federal and provincial governments as well the injustices against our city,” he said, adding that the people of Karachi wanted their rightful share of water and electricity as they were the one who paid hefty taxes.

Dr Sattar demanded that the government give control of water and power of Karachi to its representatives.

He said that his party would stage sit-ins at the Governor House, Chief Minister House and offices of the K-Electric and Karachi Water and Sewerage Board if the water and power problems were not solved.

Senator Nighat Mirza and MPA Qamar Abbas also spoke on the occasion.

They said that the CM and KE and KWSB management should have resigned since they failed to provide relief to the people of Karachi.

The participants in the protest demonstration also burnt effigies of the KE and KWSB managements.

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2018