Rain deepens rifts between MQM-P, PPP

Besides loss of life and property in downpour, coalition partner sour over rigging in LG polls

KARACHI:

The torrential rains have not only ravaged Sindh, especially Karachi, but deepen the rifts among the ruling alliance as the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQMP) threatened on Tuesday the federal and provincial governments to take its demands seriously or else it would take its own decision - a tacit hint of splitting away from the alliance.

In less than a month, the MQM-P has threatened the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)-led Sindh government and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led federal government of dire consequences, saying MQM-P had joined the alliance after signing an agreement but there was nothing on the ground to show that the demands would be fulfilled even three months after coming into power.

On June 27, differences had emerged among the allies over Sindh LG polls and caused distrust in the centre.

The MQM-P and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F), among others, had rejected Sindh LG poll results and accused PPP of rigging, saying they would take out to the street and won't let LG polls take place in Karachi and Hyderabad if their reservations were not addressed.

On Tuesday, the deputy convener and former Mayor of Karachi Wasim Akhtar said that the recent rains have resulted in the loss of lives and destroyed shops, private property and businesses as well as the city's infrastructure, saying no one from the government and the administration was seen on the roads when the city was flooded.

The former mayor questioned why no plan was devised before the monsoon rains, especially, when the administration and machinery was under Sindh government.

He chided the administrator Karachi by reminding him that Karachi wasn't just limited to Shahra-e-Faisal as the restive city comprises of many other areas that were deeply affected by torrential rains and no one was there to help people.

Recalling his time as mayor, Akhtar said that not a single underpass was blocked due to the rainwater but the performance of the ruling party was evident during the recent rains as not a single underpass was opened.

Akhtar said that recruiting the non-locals on 'fake domicile' was among the reasons as all of them left Karachi for destruction and went to their hometowns to celebrate Eid, saying the local staff would have been in the town during difficult time.