PESHAWAR: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz president Amir Muqam has expressed concern about Karachi deaths by a suspected gas leak and demanded of the government to take necessary steps to keep the other residents out of harm’s way.

He also demanded the payment of compensation to the families of the deceased.

In a statement issued here on Thursday, Mr Muqam said the number of deaths was growing in areas near Karachi seaport but the government had yet to ascertain their actual cause.

He said it was the duty of the relevant departments to take immediate steps for the safety of the residents of the affected area. The PML-N leader said the residents were so terrified by the growing deaths that they had begun moving to safer places.

He said the government should ensure the postmortem of the deceased to know the exact cause of deaths and strictly punish those, whose negligence had led to the tragedy.

Mr Muqam said the PML-N had postponed a public meeting scheduled for Feb 22 in Kemari area of Karachi due to the incident, while the party’s office-bearers had been told to help the families affected by the suspected gas leak.

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2020