KARACHI, June 24: The opposition parties have criticised the authorities over the criminal negligence which resulted in loss of 200 lives besides other damages during the two days of monsoon rains in Karachi.
In a joint statement issued on Sunday, Senator Mian Raza Rabbani, the Leader of Opposition in the Sindh Assembly, Nisar Ahmad Khuhro, MPAs Shazia Marri, Rafique Engineer, Sajid Jokhio and others demanded suo motu notice of the loss of lives due to the negligence of the regime.
They said the city government, being run by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, went on digging roads leaving the trees along them weak. These trees fell on the people who took shelter under them during the rainfall on Saturday, they added.
Besides, the opposition leaders said, the Civil Aviation Authority and the Pakistan Railway had issued permission for hoardings without realising the danger they posed to public during such calamities.
Expressing sorrow over the deaths and sympathising with the affected families, Sindh PPP President Syed Qaim Ali Shah said despite the rain forecast the government failed to shift the settlers of katchi abadis to safe place.
Demanding compensation to the affected families, Mr Shah said the rains had exposed the tall claims of the government.
Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal legislators Nasrullah Khan Shaji, Yunus Barai, Hameeduallah Khan and Abdul Rehman Rajput said only 17mm rains had exposed the tall claims of the city government about its preparations for any emergency situation.
He said when Niamatullah Khan was the city nazim 132mm rain was recorded but the loss was not so heavy.
They expressed concern over the failure of water, sewerage and power systems which caused heavy losses to people from all walks of life.
With the choked drains left unattended despite the rain forecast, all roads and streets were submerged by rainwater and the snapped wires played havoc with the lives of pedestrians. Motorists remained stranded in traffic jams as no alternative arrangement was ready beforehand with the government.
Demanding ban on hoardings, the MMA leaders said that nobody was safe on roads as at a number of places the hoardings fell on people.