MQM-Haqeeqi, truck owners mend fences

Representative bodies of trucks and dumper owners on Sunday asserted that accidents happen not only because of rash driving but also because of dilapidated roads choked by encroachers.

Mohajir Qaumi Movement (Pakistan) Chairman Afaq Ahmed met a joint delegation of the Insaf Truck Dumper Association and the All Truck Dumper Owners Association, led by Haji Yousuf and Agha Mian Jan, at his residence. Aslam Khan, head of the Karachi Grand Alliance, was also present at the meeting.

During the discussion, the delegation expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives in road accidents. "We are deeply grieved by the loss of human lives in accidents," said the delegation leader. "No person kills even an ant intentionally - how can anyone deliberately harm a human being?"

The representatives said that while accidents may occur due to violations of traffic rules or driver negligence, "the major reason lies in the broken roads and the encroachments occupying more than half of the road space under official patronage."

Afaq Ahmed assured the delegation that he considered the Pashtuns as brothers, saying that his earlier appeal for strict enforcement of traffic laws in the wake of dumper accidents had been "wrongly given an ethnic twist by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), portraying it as a conspiracy to ignite Mohajir-Pashtun riots."

At a time when tensions are high on the borders and national unity is the need of the hour, the PPP has tried to create unrest in the city by sealing Pashtun-run hotels, he said. "This move aims to distract Pashtuns from contributing to national security and supporting our armed forces, by pushing them into economic uncertainty."

Afaq Ahmed added that Mohajirs and Pashtuns together could play a vital role in ensuring the country's stability and security. "Even real brothers have disagreements - what matters is that we sit together and find solutions," he remarked.

He further stressed that tolerance and mutual respect among all communities were essential in the current circumstances.