Orangi residents take to the streets, demand solutions to problems

Stop using police and institutions against Karachiites, says JI leader

A large number of Orangi Town residents took to the streets on Sunday, demanding that their problems pertaining to civic amenities be solved.

The rally was organised by Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi chapter. Residents of the area complained that they are plagued by issues such as garbage heaps, choked sewerage system, ruthless usage of force by police to extort money, incompetency of NADRA, shortage of potable water, unavailability of mass transit system, frequent power outages and over-billing on part of K-Electric (K-E) and tumbling transport system among other issues.

A large number of people participated in the rally that began from Shah Waliullah Nigar area of Orangi Town. As an expression of solidarity, the rally was showered with rose petals at several points.

Addressing the rally, JI Karachi chief Engr Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said the people of Karachi in general and Orangi Town in particular have been deprived of their due rights. He said Karachiites were betrayed by those who claimed to be the representatives of the city. Instead of uplifting the state of the city and the citizens, the so-called leaders only raised the living standards of their own families. He added that the city was victimised by the divide-and-rule policy.

According to Rehman, times have changed now and there is no room for the politics of ethnic divide in Karachi. He said that all the burning issues of Karachi could be resolved only through unity and joint struggle under honest leadership. He said that the rally is evidence of the fact that Karachi has rejected the politics of fear and threat.

He criticised the provincial police department for harassing innocent people on the pretext of operations. He said that police arrest a large number of people and then release them after receiving hefty amounts in bribe. This situation is unacceptable, he said.

Criticising the policies of the federal and provincial governments, he said the rulers have been sowing the seeds of unrest among the public.

He said that NADRA blocked millions of Computerised National Identity Cards while the authorities are now reluctant to unblock the cards. The affected people are threatened and pressed with illogical demands, he said. He urged upon the NADRA authorities to shun such corrupt practices. He warned that JI will besiege NADRA offices as well as governmental offices, including the Governor House, if the affected cards are not unblocked.