Karachi: Water-crazed mob thrashes MPA, nazims

[LRE]

Water-crazed mob thrashes MPA, nazims

By Fareed Farooqui

KARACHI: Frustrated people, exhausted by the constant shortage of water and electricity, gathered at main Manghopir Road and beat up MPA Tahir Qureshi, Nazim Saddar Town Dilawer Khan, Naib Nazim Saddar Town Nasir Taimur, Union Council (UC) Naib Nazim Rais Ghauri and UC Councilor Arif during a protest demonstration Friday evening.

The residents of Madina Colony, Garden West and its vicinity, including women and children took to the street at 2:00 p.m. and blocked the road from every side and started to burn tires. They then sat down on the road with their families and demanded an immediate water supply to the area. The main roads from SITE area to Garden and from Garden to SITE and other roads connected to Manghopir road backed up with heavy traffic.

More than 10 police mobiles reached the spot from Saddar Town, SITE Town and Jamshed Town. UC-2 Saddar Town councilor Arif tried to placate the mob but he was beaten and his clothes were torn. The councilor was saved by the police.

DSP Jamshed Town Nawaz Ranjha tried at 6:00 p.m. to talk to the people and warned them that they should evacuate the road within two minutes otherwise force would be used. “Do your job,” the mob brazenly taunted him in response. “Go ahead and kill us. We are being killed by the scarcity of water and electricity as it is.”

The area has been deprived of water for the last two months and they blocked the road in protest 15 days ago. An MPA of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) assured them that they would be given a supply within the next two days and they believed him, some of them said.

The people said that these promises have not been kept by the MPA and water tankers are being purchased regularly, for Rs 500, for daily usage. “This area has never seen a shortage like this before. We fear that the KWSB has transferred the supply line to another area,” said a protestor.

Police officers available at the scene told Daily Times that they are trying to contact the city nazim, Saddar Town nazim, the MPA of the area and officials from the KWSB but they have not reached the spot yet. The police, meanwhile, tried clearing one of the roads, and asked people to remain on one side to allow the traffic to pass.

When the protestors didn’t listen to them, the police conducted a ‘lathi charge’ and the crowd retaliated by pelting them with stones. Tear gas was eventually used to disperse the protestors.

Around 7:30 p.m., Tahir Qureshi, town nazims and a KWSB staff finally reached the scene and tried to console the mob. However, the protestors refused to have any of it, and started manhandling the officials, pushing them around. “We are here to resolve your problem peacefully,” requested Qureshi and Khan to the protestors.

The people replied by demanding the police be removed first before any talks can commence. Qureshi complied and the police were finally ordered to leave the scene. Khan ordered the Saddar Town and KWSB officials to dig the road and check the water lines. “Your problem will be solved within a few days. Till then, water will be supplied by tankers,” he promised the protestors around 10 p.m.

Hearing this, the people dispersed contently. “The shortage of water and this protest is all because of KWSB MD Suleman Chandio and other officials. I informed the MD, myself, 15 days ago but no action was taken,” Khan told Daily Times.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...008_pg12_1