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ISLAMABAD, Sept 1: President General Pervez Musharraf on Saturday expressed his deep shock over the collapse of a section of the Northern Bypass bridge in Karachi’s Shershah area and directed an immediate inquiry into the matter.
The president also expressed grief over the loss of life and damage to property.
President Musharraf directed the authorities concerned to thoroughly investigate the causes leading to the collapse of the bridge and to fix responsibility so that those responsible for the accident could be taken to task.
PM expresses concern
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life and property due to the bridge collapse.
He also expressed his concern over the quality of construction of the bridge and said that an investigation has been ordered to find the reasons of the collapse and the people responsible for substandard construction would be made accountable.
He directed Minister for Communications Shamim Siddiqui to take strict action against the people responsible for the incident.
The prime minister expressed his condolences with the families of those who had died in the unfortunate incident and prayed to the Almighty to grant fortitude to the bereaved families.
The prime minister also talked to the governor and the chief minister of Sindh by telephone and directed them to provide early compensation to the victims’ families and proper medical care and relief to the injured.
Meanwhile Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim has also expressed sorrow over the bridge collapse.
He asked the authorities concerned to immediately launch an inquiry into the incident.
Also, Inspector-General of Police Ziaul Hasan visited the site of the collapsed bridge on Saturday. Accompanied by senior police officers, the IGP issued necessary instructions for the rescue operation.
He asked police officers to remain at the site till the completion of the rescue operation and maintain close liaison with the organisations and departments concerned.
MMA demands probe
Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) Sindh President and MNA Asadullah Bhutto has expressed shock over the loss of lives in the bridge collapse incident and called for initiating a probe into the matter.
In a statement issued here on Saturday, Asadullah Bhutto said that the incident was evidence of the failure of the government, adding that it was unfortunate that there was no heavy machinery in the largest city of Pakistan and the capital of Sindh to tackle such tragic incidents.
The collapse of the bridge two months after its inauguration was a serious matter hinting at the use of substandard material in costly projects due to the rampant corruption of the rulers, he remarked. —APP/PPI
