PPP faces backlash amidst Karachi's heavy rain woes

Shehbaz, Khalid Maqbool and Hafiz Naeem claim recent rains exposed PPP govt’s poor performance

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), led by Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, is facing intense backlash from political opponents as Karachi, the capital of Sindh, witnessed severe traffic jams and multiple power outages during the unprecedented winter rains over the last two days.

For the past 15 years, the PPP has been in control of Sindh, including Karachi, but the recent challenges brought forth by the heavy downpour have triggered criticism from rival political leaders.

Major thoroughfares in the port city were inundated, leaving motorists stranded for hours, and the situation prompted strong remarks from political figures.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif expressed his concern, stating that Karachi had "turned into an ocean" during the rains.

He urged Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to engage in a comparison rather than a debate, emphasizing that if Lahore faced a similar situation, he would withdraw from the election and invite Bilawal to contest from his constituency.

Sharif made these remarks during a media interaction in Lahore on Sunday.

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Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) Convener Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui accused the PPP of neglecting Karachi's welfare, asserting that the city was under the rule of 'enemies' after the rain.

Siddiqui criticised the caretaker Sindh government for allegedly prioritising PPP's interests. He pointed out that Mayor Murtaza Wahab, elected after what he referred to as 'sham' elections, received substantial funds from the federal government, but the state of Karachi did not reflect the investment.

Siddiqui further lamented that the rains exposed the PPP government's performance over the past 15 years and highlighted the extensive traffic delays he personally experienced. He claimed that Karachi was crying under the rule of its enemies.

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Jamaat-e-Islami’s (JI) Karachi chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman echoed the sentiment, blaming the mayor's poor performance for the chaos during the rains.

Rehman criticised the lack of arrangements made by the mayor despite prior predictions of rain by the meteorological department. He asserted that the newly constructed roads and sewage systems had been destroyed in the downpour, challenging the PPP's claim of transforming Karachi into Paris before the general elections slated for February 8.

Hafiz Naeemur Rehman also highlighted the timely response of Jamaat-e-Islami and Al-Khidmat volunteers in different areas for rescue efforts immediately after the rain. This comes as a counterpoint to the perceived failures of the PPP-led administration in managing the aftermath of the heavy rainfall.

As the criticism intensifies, the PPP finds itself in the midst of a political storm, facing questions about its governance and preparedness for weather-related challenges in one of Pakistan's most populous cities.