Arrest warrants for ex-KMC directors issued

Magistrate orders police to produce ex municipal commissioner and KMC directors by March 18

KARACHI:

The judicial magistrate for the Central district has issued non-bailable arrest warrants for a former municipal commissioner and directors of the Karachi Municipal Corporation (KMC) in connection with the death of a citizen caused by a fallen signboard. The magistrate ordered the SHO of Nazimabad police station to arrest the accused and present them before his court.

During the proceedings on Saturday, the investigating officer submitted the case challan before the magistrate, in which the accused were found culpable. The magistrate approved the final challan and ordered the arrest of the absconding accused, ordering police to bring them into court by March 18.

The court remarked that it was the accused's responsibility to maintain the signboards in their respective areas, highlighting their failure in this regard. Concerns were raised regarding potential tampering with evidence related to the incident.

The court issued the arrest warrants for former municipal commissioner Akhtar and KMC directors Azhar and Taslim Ali. According to police reports, the incident occurred in August 2023, resulting in the death of a citizen and injuries to two others.

In a related development, a senior civil judge issued notices to the KMC on a petition filed by the widow of Syed Fakhre Alam, a citizen who died after falling into a drain. 

The petitioner's lawyer, Usman Farooq Advocate, argued that Fakhre Alam, a father of five and a worker at a dyeing factory had left for work on Sunday February, 3, but never returned home. He had fallen into a drain of the Hub River drain in Baldia Town on February 3, following heavy rainfall. 

Usman Farooq Advocate further argued that the incompetence of KMC in failing to drain the rainwater led to the incident. The court has been petitioned to order the KMC to pay Rs37.1 million in compensation to the deceased's wife. The court issued a notice to the KMC regarding the matter.