Petitions urge criminal case against Karachi mayor over toddler's death

JI stages demonstration, demands mayor to resign over death of three-year-old from falling in manhole

Two separate petitions were filed on Tuesday in the court of the District and Sessions Judge for District East, seeking the registration of a criminal case against senior municipal officials, including Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, over the death of a three-year-old boy who fell into a manhole near Nipa.

In one petition, Advocate Abdul Ahad stated that the child, Ibrahim, died after slipping into a lidless manhole and alleged that the negligence of the municipal and district administration directly caused the tragedy. He added that Ibrahim’s family had repeatedly complained about the uncovered manhole, but authorities failed to secure the area. “The bereaved family has also blamed the authorities for failing to secure the area despite repeated public complaints,” the petition said.

The filing further noted that no official rescue team arrived in time, forcing the family to hire a private search group and spend Rs15,000 to recover the boy’s body. The petition argued that Karachi’s citizens “continue to pay the price for the alleged incompetence and corruption of civic agencies” and requested the court to order police to register an FIR against the mayor, the Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town chairman, and other responsible officials.

In a separate plea, Advocate Sheikh Saqib Ahmed also held the city’s top civic leadership responsible, stating that Ibrahim’s death resulted from “culpable negligence” on the part of the mayor and other officials. He requested the court to direct the registration of a criminal case for negligence leading to the loss of an innocent life. The court is expected to review both applications in the coming days.

Meanwhile, a protest was held at Nipa Chowrangi on Tuesday over the death of three-year-old Ibrahim, sparking widespread criticism of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, the mayor, and the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation.

The demonstration, led by Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi’s Deputy Ameer and KMC Opposition Leader Saifuddin Advocate, condemned government indifference and the alleged incompetence of the KMC and KWSC.

Addressing the gathering, Advocate Saifuddin said that providing manhole covers is the responsibility of the KMC and the Water Corporation. He demanded the resignation of Mayor Wahab, holding him accountable for the incident.

Protesters carried banners and placards with slogans such as “Resign Mayor Murtaza Wahab,” “Don’t turn the city into a graveyard,” and “Put covers on manholes or go home.” One banner displayed Ibrahim’s picture with the words: “Whose hands should I seek my blood from?”

Speakers accused the mayor of shifting blame onto town chairmen instead of accepting responsibility. They criticised the government for failing to act promptly, noting that while the city mourned, the mayor was inaugurating a swimming pool heating system. Saifuddin alleged that only 25 manhole covers had been provided to a union council, despite thousands being required, and insisted that it is not the responsibility of town or UC chairmen to arrange covers from their own budgets.

District East Ameer Naeem Akhtar, Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town Chairman Dr Fawad, Vice Chairman Ibrahim Siddiqui, and other leaders also addressed the protest. They said Karachi’s infrastructure is collapsing, with broken roads, unsafe pedestrian areas, and stalled projects. Dr Fawad highlighted repeated accidents on the BRT Red Line, calling it a “death trap” and demanding an audit and inquiry into the project.

Akhtar condemned the Nipa tragedy as “beyond words” and demanded strict punishment for those responsible. He stated that despite billions being spent on development, Karachi continues to suffer while projects in other cities progress. He emphasised that empowering elected representatives is the only way to resolve the city’s problems.