SC grills Sindh govt, mayor for ‘ruining Karachi’s infrastructure’

Says the whole city has been sold for a few pennies while citizens suffer

KARACHI: The Supreme Court came down hard on Tuesday at the Sindh government, governor, city administration, K-Electric and other municipal authorities over their failure to manage civic amenities in the city, especially during and after the first spell of monsoon rainfall.

Presiding over a three-member bench which heard a number of petitions at the SC's Karachi Registry, Justice Gulzar Ahmed remarked that the Government of Sindh and the city administration had completely failed. "Do you understand what it would mean if the federal government intervened? You don't know the seriousness of the matter," remarked Justice Ahmed. The bench, which also comprised Justice Faisal Arab and Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, warned the Sindh chief minister about issuing a contempt of court notice.

During the hearing, Karachi Additional IG Ghulam Nabi Memon, Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar, Karachi Water and Sewerage Board MD, Municipal Commissioner Dr Saif, Sindh Building Control Authority DG and other officials appeared before the court.

As the hearing commenced, Justice Ahmed remarked that while Karachi was drowning in rainwater, some people were sitting at Cafe Pyala. "The Karachi mayor was even wearing a raincoat to stay safe," he quipped. "Several people died due to the heavy rain but it hasn't affected these people. Rainwater is still present on the roads and it will rain in the city again next week. You people should enjoy because all the suffering is for citizens," he added.

Café Pyala

Sindh Advocate-General Salman Talibuddin told the court that the Karachi Mayor and Sindh Governor had gone to Cafe Pyala. Justice Ahmed remarked that the government of Sindh couldn't even do that and its officials were issuing directives from inside their bungalows. "Rains are expected again in Karachi next week, what will happen then?" he questioned. "No one is acting on judicial orders. We don't have any option but to issue contempt of court notice to the CM," he added.

Taking exception to the media's coverage of the situation, the court observed that all of the media's attention was directed towards Cafe Pyala on the day it was raining. "Media was busy in the coverage of Cafe Pyala instead of showing the devastation in the city," remarked Justice Ahmed. "The chief minister kept calling K-Electric while sitting inside the CM House. The media doesn't cover the difficulties faced by the citizens because it doesn't get paid for it," he added.

Justice Faisal Arab asked the officials if they knew what Karachi's standing was in the 1960s. "What have they done to it now?" he remarked. "The worst part is that the court must remind you of your responsibilities," he added.

AG Talibuddin prayed the court to grant some extension. Justice Gulzar Ahmed questioned how many extensions they needed. The court has been hearing the case for two to three years. The further extension won't be granted, he added.

AG Talibuddin told the court that the chief minister was busy in a meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad. "I assure that the judicial orders will be acted upon under any circumstances," he said.

Justice Ahmed remarked that the Karachi Mayor says that he wasn't invited to any meeting. "What is the point of a meeting regarding the city's situation if the mayor is not attending it?" questioned Justice Ahmed. "We don't understand how the Karachi Mayor is saying he doesn't have money."

AG Talibuddin maintained that little efforts have been made and requested the court to list them. At this, Justice Ahmed told him to visit Lalukhait, North Nazimabad, Manghopir or Kati Pahari. "Big mafias are working everywhere. Citizens are killed in the war of your ego and obduracy. Children are dying in the streets and no one cares about it. Parents don't send their kids to school out of fear. My wife remains worried when my granddaughter goes to school," he said.

Electrocution deaths

During the hearing, Justice Arab noted that 22 children had died after suffering electric shocks during the recent rains in Karachi, but the deaths had had no effect on the K-Electric. "Why were the electricity providers not grabbed by the collar over these many deaths?" Justice Ahmed asked the AG.

The AG maintained that action had been taken against K-Electric. Justice Ahmed questioned if there was any replacement if Abraaj left. "All of Abraaj's institutions have closed - only the K-Electric has been left. The K-Electric is the goose that lays golden eggs for Abraaj," he remarked. "They make Rs50 million in profit in exchange of 5 paisa," continued Justice Ahmed. "They [KE] sold all copper wires and are using aluminium wires instead. Has anyone done K-Electric's audit?" he questioned, adding that the authorities should have deliberated before handing over such a sensitive system of the city to a foreign company.

Security situation

The court also expressed concern over the security situation in Karachi. Justice Ahmed remarked that the city has been given in the hands of armed men. "No one can drive their cars in Karachi. Citizens live in perpetual fear of being robbed at a traffic signal on gunpoint. No child is safe here," he remarked.

On the issue of encroachments, Justice Ahmed remarked that the authorities had taken everything away from the children. "We don't know if there are any animals in the zoo," he said. "The officials may be consuming the money allocated for providing food to the animals," he added. The court inquired that if there was grass in the zoo. The KMC officials replied that grass was being planted.

Justice Ahmed remarked that grass was a basic thing that should be present in any zoo. "They have sold the whole city for just a few pennies," he remarked. "Children have been deprived of places for physical activities."

Mayor's powers

The court remarked that the provision of civic amenities in Karachi was the collective responsibility of the city administration and the provincial government. AG Talibuddin argued that the chief minister was heading the meetings himself. To this, Justice Ahmed warned him not to assume that people were fools. "Everyone can tell what is being done for whose benefit," he said.

The court sought a response from the chief minister regarding the powers of the Karachi Mayor and the situation of the city. During the hearing, the mayor and AG Talibuddin got into a heated exchange inside the courtroom. The AG argued that the mayor had both the money and the authority. Objecting over the AG's remarks, Mayor Akhtar questioned whether the AG was a public servant or a politician.

At this, Justice Ahmed intervened and told the mayor to respect his position and not to speak in this tone. "You became the mayor on your own will and you haven't done any favours if you have worked for public service," he said.

The court adjourned the hearing for August 9, while summoning a response from the chief minister on how he plans to resolve the city's civic issues.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 7^th, 2019.