KARACHI, July 13(ABC): The coalition partners in the federal government — MQM-P and PPP — were at loggerheads Wednesday after heavy rainfall in the port city brought the metropolis to a standstill.
The monsoon rains’ first spell killed at least 29 people in Karachi from July 4-11 and inundated the city’s roads, with more “vigorous monsoon activity” expected in the port city from July 14-17.
Due to the loss of lives and property, people criticised the provincial government and, as a result, the PPP’s partner in the Centre, MQM-P also took it to task over the situation that arose in the aftermath of the rains.
Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah, addressing a press conference in Karachi along with ministers and PPP leaders, rejected the criticism, saying that the provincial government “managed the situation in the best way it could”.
“If a short spell of torrential rain occurs, then problems arise. If intermittent rains take place throughout the month, then water will not accumulate on the streets. When heavy rainfall occurs in a short period of time, it causes issues,” he said.
The chief minister said that this year, the district west of the city recorded 232 millimetres of rain, while within three hours, the city registered a record 127mm millimetres of rain.
Shah, who is a PPP stalwart, said that during the rains in Karachi, political parties resorted to the “blame game” and he claimed that the Sindh government officials were in Karachi during the time — not elsewhere.
“People blaming the officials for not being in Karachi should name the officials who were not present here,” CM Sindh said while slamming the Opposition parties.
Taking a swipe at the PTI, the chief minister said that 14 members of the National Assembly (MNAs) from the party were only confined to “TV screens”.
The chief minister further stated: “I am saying this with full surety: On July 10, water was not accumulated anywhere in the city.” At Nagan Chowrangi, the water was cleared within two hours.
In 2007, 228 people died when 140mm of rainfall occurred, while in 2009, 50 people passed away in rain-related incidents when 200mm of rainfall took place.
“It saddens me when this matter is linked with ethnicity. Yes, I went to my village but I returned at night,” CM Shah said.