KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly on Monday turned into a shouting match as opposition members staged a noisy protest over Karachi’s crippling water crisis, demanding immediate restoration of supply ahead of Eidul Azha.
The session opened in chaos as the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) staged a furious protest over Karachi’s persistent water shortage, gathering in front of the podium with chants of “give water to Karachi” echoing through the hall.
As Anthony Naveed, acting speaker of the assembly, called the house to order for Question Hour, Opposition Leader Ali Khurshidi and other opposition members sought permission to speak on a point of order regarding the city’s water crisis and rushed from their seats to the podium when denied the floor.
Amid slogans against the provincial government echoing through the hall, Question Hour collapsed into chaos and not a single question was heard or answered as the treasury benches also shouted at the opposition members.
Opposition lawmakers chant slogans, demanding water for residents
Finally, the chair conceded to the opposition’s protest and ruled that only the opposition leader would be given the floor to speak on the water crisis, as Mr Khurshidi warned that if his voice was suppressed, no one would be able to speak in the assembly.
“It will be better if the acting speaker shuts down this fish market here,” he said, pointing to the treasury members’ shouting.
He said the whole city “was thirsty for every drop of water” while the authorities watched like silent, senseless spectators. “There is no water in the taps, nor is it coming through tankers,” he said, adding that he had tried to get a tanker for two days, but failed.
He said the situation in Gulshan-i-Iqbal and Orangi Town had been alarming for the past two days. “Karachi’s citizens are thirsty, and the entire city presents a scene of Karbala,” he added.
While the opposition leader was still on his feet, the chair switched off his microphone, ruling that no one else would be given the floor to speak on the issue.
K-IV key to meeting demand
Replying to the opposition leader’s point of order, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar said the opposition should not do politics over water. “The K-IV project is underway in Karachi,” he said, adding that the MQM-P was part of the federal government and should press it to complete the project quickly.
He said that water was being supplied to the city, and water theft was also a major problem there. “Without the K-IV project, it is not possible to supply water to Karachi according to the city’s needs,” he added.
But this was not the end of the water issue story in the house. The point of order was followed by several call-attention notices from the opposition members on the acute water shortage in their respective constituencies and adjacent areas.
MQM-P member Shariq Jamal raised water and sewerage issues in his constituency in Malir Colony. He said the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) had laid an express line at a cost of Rs90 million, but no water was coming to the area.
Local Government (LG) Minister Nasir Hussain Shah replied that some work had been completed there. “Nine development schemes are running in Korangi and Shah Faisal,” he told the MQM-P members, adding that the provincial government was doing its job.
MQM-P member Aamir Siddiqui, in his call attention notice, said that there was a severe water crisis in Garden, Patel Para, Fatima colony and Hyderabad Colony.
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s Shabbir Qureshi, on a point of order, said that demand for water in Karachi was high and supply was low. He added that “even discussing water issues in the house is discouraged”.
Jamaat-i-Islami member Muhammad Farooq, in his call-attention notice, said that due to the rupture of a 36-inch diameter sewerage line, his entire constituency had turned into a pond. “Work on the line is proceeding very slowly, and Eidul Azha is also approaching. There are two feet of water standing even in front of mosques,” he said.
MQM-P’s Naseer Ahmed said in his call-attention notice that not a single road in his constituency, Manghopir, was in good condition.
The LG minister said that the provincial government “would build not one but all roads in Manghopir”.
PTI’s Sajjad Soomro said in his call-attention notice that there was a drainage issue in his constituency.
The LG minister said, “Lyari is ours anyway. Keeping Lyari’s importance in view, the government has given a major package.”
During the session, MQM-P member Aamir Siddiqui’s resolution regarding the burning of people’s houses in Jacobabad and punishment for the responsible police officials was adopted.
Shahrah-i-Bhutto termed ‘Eid gift for Karachiites’
On a point of order, Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said that on this Eid, the Pakistan Peoples Party and the provincial government had given the people of Karachi the gift of Shahrah-i-Bhutto. “It was our leadership’s vision to plan this project. Not just PPP, but people from across the country will travel on Shahrah-i-Bhutto,” he added. He expressed regret that as soon as the project was inaugurated, “some smoke was seen rising” as some parties that faced problems with the project were demanding a separate province.
He said that hateful remarks were not in the interest of the people or the country’s progress. “This is a journey of development for all of Pakistan; it should be celebrated.”
He said that it was now clear to everyone that the Iran-US dispute was moving toward a resolution, which was a major challenge for the entire region.
“Our Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and the prime minister played a key role in resolving this issue,” he said, adding that the whole world was praising the Field Marshal’s role, and Pakistan was currently being recognised globally as a peace-loving country.
The senior minister said that one year had passed since Marka-i-Haq, when Pakistan’s name shined across the world, and after a humiliating defeat, India had fallen into global isolation. He said that after its historic defeat, India was no longer able to show its face to anyone. “This is a major success for Pakistan,” he added.
Later, the house was prorogued.
Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2026
