KARACHI: The MQM-P and the PPP, which are currently coalition partners at the Centre, clashed on Wednesday when they criticized each other after devastating rains lashed the metropolis.
The first round of monsoon rains killed at least 29 in Karachi and flooded city streets from July 4-11, with more “vigorous monsoon activity” expected in the port city from July 14-17 .
Due to the loss of life and property, people criticized the provincial government and as a result, the PPP’s ally at the Centre, the MQM-P, also started working on the situation that arose after the rains.
Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah, addressing a press conference with ministers and PPP leaders in Karachi, dismissed the criticism, saying the provincial government had “managed the situation in the best way”.
“If there is a short period of torrential rains, problems arise. If it rains intermittently throughout the month, water will not accumulate on the roads. When there is heavy rainfall in a short span of time, it creates problems,” he said.
The Chief Minister said that this year the West district of the city recorded 232 mm of rain, while within three hours the city recorded a record 127 mm of rain.
PPP veteran Shah said that during the rains in Karachi, political parties resorted to “blame game” and claimed that Sindh government officials were in Karachi at the time – nowhere else.
Taking a dig at the opposition parties, CM Sindh said, ‘Those who accused the officials of not being in Karachi should take the names of the officers who were not present here.
Taking a dig at PTI, the chief minister said the party’s 14 members of the National Assembly (MNA) were confined to “TV screens” only.
The chief minister added: “I am saying this with full confidence: there was no water logging anywhere in the city on July 10.” The water in Nagan Chowringhee became clear within two hours.
In 2007, 228 people died due to 140 mm of rain, while in 2009, 50 people died in rain-related incidents when 200 mm of rain fell.
“I feel sad when this matter is linked to ethnicity. Yes, I had gone to my village but I returned at night,” said CM Shah.
‘Not based on reality’
Responding to its coalition partner at the Centre, the MQM-P rejected the PPP’s claims of serving the city during the rains, saying the statements issued by the provincial government were not in line with the ground situation.
“The role the chief minister claims is not based on reality,” MQM-P leader Khwaja Izharul Hasan told a press conference at the party office in Bahadurabad.
Defending the MQM-P, Hassan said it had struck a deal with the PPP for the betterment of Karachi, but it “pained” some people.
He was referring to the lengthy agreement the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) sought the MQM-P’s support in March to oust then Prime Minister Imran Khan from power.
Hassan then said that he was “surprised” to see the situation in posh areas such as the Defense Housing Authority (DHA), where the water level was very high.
The MQM-P leader insisted that once the city’s administrative structure was reformed, things would gradually improve as the country was currently acting like a “banana republic”.
He said that the Chief Minister can and should give the example of London, but at the same time he should give the same powers to the Mayors of the cities of his province.
“The people of Karachi are still at a loss as to who will pick up their garbage. In the rains, the situation at DHA was worse than in New Karachi,” Hassan said.