Floods test political waters
Political party representatives stand guard over embankments in their respective areas in the city.
KARACHI:
As flood waters reach dangerous levels in Hyderabad, political party representatives stand guard over embankments in their respective areas in the city.
According to the Kotri Barrage control room, 725,719 cusecs of water was flowing upstream and 700,174 cusecs downstream on Friday evening. This high flood is making its way towards Thatta after hitting hard on the protection walls in the city’s Qasimabad area – where Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Sindh’s nationalist parties hold sway – and Latifabad, where the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has a large vote bank.
All in the same boat
Hyderabad DCO Aftab Ahmed Khatri says that the situation is under control and that the Pakistan Army, Rangers and police personnel are on hand to deal with any challenges.
“All stakeholders must realise that if either side of the embankment, whether in Qasimabad or Latifabad breaks down, the whole city will be submerged,” Khatri points out.
An exceptionally high flood of more than 900,000 cusecs is expected to pass by the city in a couple of days, says Chief Engineer Kotri Barrage Manzoor Shiekh.
Women from Awami Tehrik are manning a part of the embankment between Qasimabad and Giddo at Sehrish Nagar. “They are there day and night to keep a watch on the administration,” Palijo says. Activists of Jiye Sindh are also present in the vicinity, chanting “Sindhu Desh” slogans. MNA Tayyab Hussain of the MQM has set up his camp close to the embankment in Latifabad. “Our party members have been working for the past two weeks to strengthen the protection walls on the edge of Latifabad and we are continuing to monitor the situation,” he says. Hussain says that all political parties need to stand shoulder to shoulder now.
A senior member of the Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party (STPP), wishing to stay anonymous, says their party chief Qadir Magsi, is also monitoring the developing situation in Hyderabad. “The fault lines between the Sindhis and Mohajirs living in Hyderabad are evident for everyone to see, but it’s important that everyone remains united at this hour.”
“At this point, I see the nationalist parties like the STPP and AT gaining ground along with the MQM given that the PPP-led government has failed on many accounts in these times of crises,” he says.
Donation camps by Sindhi nationalist parties such as the STPP and AT are prominent throughout Qasimabad and adjoining areas. The MQM too has set up camps in Latifabad. For the moment, neither side anticipates confrontation.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 21st, 2010.
As flood waters reach dangerous levels in Hyderabad, political party representatives stand guard over embankments in their respective areas in the city.
According to the Kotri Barrage control room, 725,719 cusecs of water was flowing upstream and 700,174 cusecs downstream on Friday evening. This high flood is making its way towards Thatta after hitting hard on the protection walls in the city’s Qasimabad area – where Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Sindh’s nationalist parties hold sway – and Latifabad, where the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has a large vote bank.
All in the same boat
Hyderabad DCO Aftab Ahmed Khatri says that the situation is under control and that the Pakistan Army, Rangers and police personnel are on hand to deal with any challenges.
“All stakeholders must realise that if either side of the embankment, whether in Qasimabad or Latifabad breaks down, the whole city will be submerged,” Khatri points out.
An exceptionally high flood of more than 900,000 cusecs is expected to pass by the city in a couple of days, says Chief Engineer Kotri Barrage Manzoor Shiekh.
Women from Awami Tehrik are manning a part of the embankment between Qasimabad and Giddo at Sehrish Nagar. “They are there day and night to keep a watch on the administration,” Palijo says. Activists of Jiye Sindh are also present in the vicinity, chanting “Sindhu Desh” slogans. MNA Tayyab Hussain of the MQM has set up his camp close to the embankment in Latifabad. “Our party members have been working for the past two weeks to strengthen the protection walls on the edge of Latifabad and we are continuing to monitor the situation,” he says. Hussain says that all political parties need to stand shoulder to shoulder now.
A senior member of the Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party (STPP), wishing to stay anonymous, says their party chief Qadir Magsi, is also monitoring the developing situation in Hyderabad. “The fault lines between the Sindhis and Mohajirs living in Hyderabad are evident for everyone to see, but it’s important that everyone remains united at this hour.”
“At this point, I see the nationalist parties like the STPP and AT gaining ground along with the MQM given that the PPP-led government has failed on many accounts in these times of crises,” he says.
Donation camps by Sindhi nationalist parties such as the STPP and AT are prominent throughout Qasimabad and adjoining areas. The MQM too has set up camps in Latifabad. For the moment, neither side anticipates confrontation.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 21st, 2010.