PA erupts in protest over death of child

Opposition voices anger over municipal negligence; minister assures strict action

KARACHI:

The Sindh Assembly witnessed tense scenes on Monday as opposition lawmakers staged a strong protest over the death of three-year-old Ibrahim, who fell into an open manhole near NEPA Chowrangi, Gulshan-e-Iqbal.

The Speaker of the Assembly Owais Qadir Shah presided over the session, which began with a special prayer for the deceased child. MQM member Iftikhar Alam criticised the government, asking how long Karachi's children will continue to fall into uncovered drains and when authorities will take preventive action. He emphasised that open manholes are essentially "inviting death" and noted that it took eleven hours to recover the child's body.

Jamaat-e-Islami MPA Muhammad Farooq questioned local officials' accountability, stating that the Mayor of Karachi and town administration were absent at the time of the incident, despite the presence of councillors. He highlighted that this was the third such incident along the BRT Red Line, calling for a formal investigation.

PTI member Rehan Bandukda, holding a photo of the child, said the tragedy should make everyone reflect, "if it were your own son, what would you feel?" His emotional appeal brought several lawmakers to tears.