Accidents should not be politicised, said the major stakeholders of the city after a meeting on the issue of fatalities caused by heavy traffic in Karachi.
Road crashes are administrative problem rather than a political or ethnic issue, they concurred at the end of the meeting held on the rising incidents of accidents and arson in the city.
Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon chaired the meeting on the instructions of Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah at the Sindh Secretariat on Tuesday.
The meeting was attended by Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, MQM-P leader and Sindh Assembly Opposition Leader Ali Khorshidi, ANP leader Shahi Syed, Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi Deputy Ameer Muslim Pervez, MQM-P MPAs Iftikhar Alam, Taha Hussain, and JI MPA Muhammad Farooq.
Truckers’ lobby was represented by Liaquat Mehsud of the Transporters Dumper Association, Sardar Abdul Hameed of the Water Tanker Association, a and Muhammad Ramzan of Karachi Goods Transporters Association.
Other prominent transporters included Ghulam Muhammad Afridi, Alhaj Yousaf Khan, and others.
The meeting discussed road accidents in Karachi, the working hours of heavy transport, and other important issues. The members expressed regret over the death of a citizen in a road accident in the Jail Chowrangi area of Karachi last night and the subsequent burning of five vehicles.
After the meeting, Memon addressed a joint press conference along with Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, Dr Farooq Sattar, Shahi Syed, Ali Khorshidi, and Muslim Pervez.
He stated that the purpose of today’s meeting was to deliberate on and devise measures to prevent accidents and incidents. All stakeholders presented their perspectives, and transporters also highlighted their concerns.
He added that everyone wants peace and order to be maintained in Karachi and that no third party should exploit political rhetoric. It was agreed in today's meeting that accidents will not be politicised and that all issues will be resolved peacefully.
Memon further stressed that as Pakistanis, everyone must work together for the betterment of the country. He also acknowledged that the challenges faced by Karachi remain a significant concern for the government.
He said that the heaviest traffic in Pakistan runs in Karachi. "We have challenges, but it is the responsibility of the government to ensure that there is not a single accident," he maintained. He also asked the transporters to tell their drivers to drive their vehicles carefully.
He added that no inflammatory statements will be made from now on. He mentioned that 15 individuals involved in mischief were arrested yesterday and urged the public not to listen to those who spread hatred.
MQM-P, JI, and ANP demand for compensation
MQM-P leader Farooq Sattar underscored the human cost of traffic accidents, calling for immediate financial relief for victims' families.
“This is not a political issue but a humanitarian crisis,” he said. “We must send a strong message to the bereaved families that we stand with them. Governments must take responsibility, and had preventive measures been taken earlier, such tragedies could have been avoided,” he added.
Sattar also called for a high-level inquiry commission to investigate traffic accidents and improve enforcement. He reassured that MQM-P opposes violence and vandalism, urging authorities to uphold their writ to prevent public outrage from escalating into lawlessness.
Jamaat-e-Islami representatives echoed the demand for compensation, proposing that each victim’s family receive Rs10 million as financial relief. They stressed that traffic regulation failures should be addressed administratively, without political interference.
ANP Sindh President Shahi Syed pointed out that traffic accidents occur nationwide, not just in Karachi, and called for a detailed report on accident trends. He emphasised that governance must be guided by law and order, not political agendas.
According to a police report presented during the conference, seven percent of Karachi’s accidents involve dumpers, prompting calls for stricter oversight of heavy vehicle operations.
The president of the Transporters’ Association refuted claims that many drivers operate vehicles under the drug influence, stating that not all dumpers are responsible for accidents. He urged for equal treatment under the law and rejected the portrayal of transporters as part of a mafia.
“We pay taxes, we are not criminals. The law should be applied fairly to all,” he asserted.
The conference concluded with a pledge to enforce stricter road safety measures, improve driver training, and review traffic laws to prevent further loss of life.
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