‘Rain exposed all’: JI’s Hafiz Naeem slams PPP, MQM-P for Karachi’s infrastructure woes
Jamat-e-Islami’s (JI) Karachi Emir Hafiz Naeem Sunday slammed Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) for their alleged corruption as the city’s infrastructural faults were “exposed” after heavy rain on Saturday.
With all political parties campaigning in full swing to woo voters with their passionate promises, Karachi witnessed intermittent heavy showers that disrupted life in the metropolis as parts of the city were submerged in rainwater ahead of the upcoming general elections on February 8.
Tonnes of water accumulated on the streets and even the main arteries of the city, making it almost impossible for commuters to move.
Reacting to the situation, Naeem, while addressing a press conference in Karachi accused PPP and MQM-P of being “complicit” in ‘corruption’ in the city’s administration.
Hafiz Naeem press conference
“Just a single spell of rain exposed them all. PPP and MQM-P are equally responsible for it,” he said.
The politician said the entire city drowned when it rained 52 millimetres last night. He compared the situation to that in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying that the provinces receive greater amounts of rain, but “life goes on”.
He said that yesterday’s rain revealed PPP’s performance.
Naeem alleged that the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation did not fulfill its responsibility, but JI’s councilors and UC chairmen stayed on the roads, even without directives.
Criticising Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, the JI leader said that the PPP leader keeps imposing taxes on the citizens. Turning his guns towards MQM-P, Naeem said that the Karachi-based party “sold its mandate to the waderas (feudal lords)”.
“They [MQM-P] used to claim that they don’t need anyone’s support but today, they couldn’t do anything even with the support of 10 parties,” he added.
Elaborating on the city’s situation post-rain, Naeem said that clean water is mixed with sewage water while around 120 electricity feeders have tripped.
He then expressed resolve to form a government in Sindh, saying that JI is not campaigning to be a part of the opposition. He then urged the masses to vote for his party and promised them to deliver.