News Analysis |
Rains have hit Sindh and exposed governance patterns being practiced by the provincial government. Many people lost their lives and others got injured. Besides, there have been power breakdowns which have caused many problems for the residents of Karachi.
In this regard, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Haider Zaidi on Monday criticized the Sindh government over flooding in Karachi and other parts of Sindh due to monsoon rains.
Political activists and analysts across the country condemned the arrest of the ruling party’s lawmakers without any solid reason.
Zaidi was responding to Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari’s tweet, the minister told her to ask her father and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari about his income which supports his lifestyle and his association with Uzair Baloch. He also told her to ask her father why the United Nations’ (UN) report on Benazir Bhutto’s murder has not been published yet.
Read more: World Bank decides to solve Karachi’s sewage problem
Moreover, with a hint of sarcasm, the minister told her to thank Zardari for the party’s “good governance” which was visible after the rain in the city.
Can u please ask ur dad the following Q’s:
1- His source of income to support this lifestyle?
2- Why has the UN report on BB’s murder not published?
3- His association with Uzair Baloch
4- & please also thank him for the good governance that is visible after today’s rain👇🏼 https://t.co/JPlb5oBQOI pic.twitter.com/fn0vRVlQvR
— Ali Haider Zaidi (@AliHZaidiPTI) July 29, 2019
Earlier, Bakhtawar had tweeted against #FixIt campaigner Alamgir Khan who had been arrested by the police on Sunday briefly, after which he was released on bail. The activist had been arrested over a clash with PPP workers.
Good. Should be locked up. PTI’s blue eyed boy with his threats, vandalism & beating up people so comfortable living above the law with rigged elections, magically vanishing NAB cases etc but this is #Sindh & we kicked out a lot worse #Its2019 #FixYourMentality https://t.co/Ziw9hudS1Y
— Bakhtawar B-Zardari (@BakhtawarBZ) July 29, 2019
Political activists and analysts across the country condemned the arrest of the ruling party’s lawmakers without any solid reason. After seeing backlash on social media, the Sindh government decided to release him.
Read more: Industrialists complain of PTI indifference in Karachi
Rain caused heavy destruction in Sindh
At least eight people, including an 11-year-old girl, lost their lives due to electrocution as heavy rain lashed Karachi and other parts of Sindh on Monday. According to rescue sources, the deaths took place in the Paposh Nagar area of Karachi where two people were electrocuted, raising the number of casualties from rain-related accidents in Karachi to six.
Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Haider Zaidi on Monday criticized the Sindh government over flooding in Karachi and other parts of Sindh due to monsoon rains.
A weather advisory issued by the Pakistan Meteorological Department on July 25 had stated that widespread rains and wind-thunderstorms were expected from Sunday to Tuesday in Mirpurkhas, Thatta, Hyderabad, Karachi, Shaheed Benazirabad, Kalat and Makran divisions.
Read more: PTI is responsible for Pakistan’s economic mess..?
In Sukkur, Larkana, Zhob, Sibbi and Naseerabad divisions, scattered rains and wind-thunderstorms with moderate to heavy rainfall was expected. Additionally, isolated heavy rainfall was expected to be in lower Sindh (Mirpurkhas, Thatta, Hyderabad, Karachi divisions) and Kalat and Makran divisions on Monday and Tuesday.
“Heavy falls may generate urban flooding in Karachi, Thatta and Hyderabad divisions on Monday and Tuesday, while flash flooding [may occur] in Kalat, Sibbi, Zhob divisions during the period,” the advisory added.
Additionally, isolated heavy rainfall was expected to be in lower Sindh (Mirpurkhas, Thatta, Hyderabad, Karachi divisions) and Kalat and Makran divisions.
Power breakdown
It is important to note that parts of the city also experienced power outages including various courts such as the Supreme Court Karachi registry, the Sindh High Court and accountability courts. This affected court proceedings resulting in most hearings being rescheduled.
Read more: PTI’s Ali Haider Zaidi lambasts PPP, Bilawal and Zardari
In a post shared on Twitter, K-Electric said that the power supply situation was normal in most areas, while supply to a few parts of Gadap, Baldia Town, Gulistan-e-Jauhar and Korangi had been affected due to heavy rainfall.
Karachi Power Update(3/3)
In several areas the accumulated water and urban flooding caused by continuous rain have been a challenge to the restoration efforts. We are grateful for your patience and regret the Inconvenience caused.— KE (@KElectricPk) July 30, 2019
According to a spokesperson for the K-Electric, electricity had been restored fully or partially in North Karachi Sector 11, Nagan Chowrangi, Nipa, Block 19 of Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Airport, Nazimabad Block 5, Punjab Chowrangi, Akthar Colony, Dohraji, Bahadurabad, Tariq Road, Hassan Square and the Saddar Lucky Star area. Work is underway to restore power in affected parts of Baldia, Landhi, Gulshan-e-Iqbal and Federal B Area.