The Jamaat-e-Islami’s Karachi chapter has announced holding a citywide protest on Friday (tomorrow) against the worsening water shortage in the metropolis, warning that it can also move towards a strike if the water supply situation is not improved immediately.
The decision was made at a meeting of district leaders at the JI Karachi headquarter Idara Noor-e-Haq. The meeting reviewed the city’s deteriorating civic conditions, with particular focus on the severe water crisis affecting residents across Karachi.
The meeting expressed deep concern over the prolonged disruption in water supply, and strongly criticised the Sindh government, the city mayor and the Karachi Water & Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) for “incompetence, mismanagement and poor performance”.
The party leadership warned the authorities that if immediate steps are not taken to restore normal water supply, large-scale protests would be organised throughout the city. Addressing the meeting, JI Karachi acting emir Saifuddin Advocate said the mayor, who also serves as the KWSC chairman, bears the responsibility for the ongoing crisis and the hardships being faced by residents.
He said that despite the JI’s earlier ultimatum, water supply has not been restored, prompting the party to announce holding a citywide protest tomorrow. He added that if the situation does not improve, the party can also consider calling for a strike in Karachi.
The JI leader said that a tanker mafia has taken control of the city’s water supply system, forcing residents to purchase water at high prices while regular supplies through pipelines remain unavailable. He said that amid the ongoing heatwave, the shortage has caused severe hardships for residents and led to protests in several areas.
He warned that failure to address the crisis can also create law and order concerns in the city. He reiterated that the JI has consistently raised their voice for the rights of Karachi’s residents, and campaigned against the “exploitative” policies of K-Electric, both through public protests and regulatory forums.
The meeting also condemned the “official patronage” of the tanker mafia, illegal water connections, and alleged interference by political elements and staff in the valve-based water distribution system.
