Pakistan

Opposition hold govt responsible for heatwave deaths, calls for day of mourning

Khursheed Shah says PM should take responsibility for deaths in Karachi as toll surpasses 500

Web Desk June 23, 2015

PHOTO: AFP

ISLAMABAD: Opposition parties in the National Assembly called for a day of mourning on Friday as the death toll from the deadly heatwave surpassed 500 in Karachi and lower Sindh.

“We call for a black day to mourn the deaths of those owing to the heatwave,” Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah said, while speaking to the media outside Parliament.

Holding the incumbent Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government responsible for the deaths, Shah said, “The government has failed to fulfill its promises to provide electricity to the people during Ramazan.”

Read: Death toll from deadly heatwave surpasses 500

"The government is responsible for the deaths in Karachi due to the unavailability of electricity in the metropolis," he added.

Further, the opposition leader went on to say that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif should take responsibility for the deaths in Karachi owing to the heatwave.

“The opposition has made the decision in unison to hold condolence meetings outside the National Press Club and mosques of the country,” Shah said. He also called for holding similar meetings outside other press clubs of the country.

Read: PM orders emergency measures as death toll exceeds 425

Further, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that all opposition parties were on the same page when it came to the issue of load-shedding in the country.

"We will give a requisition for the summoning of National Assembly to discuss the increasing load-shedding in hot weather," Qureshi added.

More than 500 people have died from a three-day heatwave in Karachi, officials said on Tuesday, as medics battled to treat victims after a state of emergency was declared in hospitals.

Read: Energy management: PM Nawaz grills top bureaucrat over blackouts

The death toll in worst-hit Karachi, where temperatures hit 45 degrees Celsius at the weekend surpassed 500 while another eight to 10 people died in other parts of southern Sindh, said Sabir Memon, a senior provincial health official.

In Karachi, electricity shortages crippled the water supply system, hampering the pumping of millions of gallons of water to consumers, the state-run water utility said.

COMMENTS (17)

Humza | 9 years ago | Reply @Rex Minor: Musharraf did not add 1 MK electricity in 10 years and Zardari did little in his 5 years so why should you expect this government to fix the energy crisis so soon? They are on track with billions of Chinese investment in infrastructure including the energy sector. rather than look at their own ineptitude in Sind, it's easy to point fingers.

Rex Minor | 9 years ago | Reply @ZAK: Too late for Pakistan to call on God the almighty one. The country has been condemned to be ruled by the Sharifs, unless local communities and local administrations take over the task in their hands. The internaional community will help if called upon; the technical expertise is available to rescue people from the heat. Rex Minor

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Raja | 9 years ago | Reply @Abdullah: Electric theft is right on top in Karachi. KESC has failed miserably in collecting dues. This is what the provincial government can do and should do. I am not supporting federal government here. I see failure in KESC management.

pervaiz | 9 years ago | Reply @Abdullah: if sind govt do not pay electricity bill of water board then how electricity will be available for waterboard and how water will be available for citizens. there is no free elctricity supplied anywhere in the world.

ZAK | 9 years ago | Reply Instead of blame game come out with practical proposals for resolution of real issue. No body can generate such heaywave except power of nature.We should pray to Allah for forgiveness of our Sins. Ulema should call for Namaz e Istasqa.This may be due killing innocents in operations. Be extremely careful that you do not hurt or kill some innocent. Also do not spare any criminal or terrorist.

Abdullah | 9 years ago | Reply @pervaiz: It's 45c you want money,ok i request sindh government to tax 20% every other state bound transport,money transfers and any transaction and tax revenue should be used for payment of bills if central government doesn't allow it block services to other states . What is use of producing more electricity than requirement and in return getting your people killed by racist central government

Rex Minor | 9 years ago | Reply @pervaiz: Why Sindh govt is not paying electricity bills to K-Electric for his hospitals and waterboard. If no bill is paid then no electricity at all. This is universal accepted rule You sir are the devil's advocate to have the answer for every calamity but none to save lives unless you reckon the current Prime Minister should order another Zarb et Zarb? Non payment of bills cannot justify the deaths of poor souls. Rex Minor

Abdullah | 9 years ago | Reply @pervaiz: if there was no electric project installed how come current minster of power have stated that current capacity 16000mw which is 60% more than 10000mw in 2008.power project takes 7 to 10 yrs to complete . current power crisis is responsibility of Nawaz sharif who in 90s transfered funds from power project to super highway gor political gain.

Rex Minor | 9 years ago | Reply @Naveed Alam Khattak: It matters not what the previous Governments have accomplished for the country, but the present federal Government which it would seem has very little concern with the people of other provinces which are being subjected to military rule while its population is suffering? Rex Minor.

Jibran | 9 years ago | Reply Someone promised to eliminate load shedding within six months. And some fools bought that promise and are still trying to defend them sweating badly, while their masters sit in the comforts of the prime minister's house, enjoying it's cool breeze.

Adnan Siddiqi | 9 years ago | Reply Nobody is listening to these degenerate morons who call themselves opposition. Their only bone of contention is Ayaan Ali and the the two boys who have been picked up in connection to Imran Farooq's murder. As for the dumb fan club party whose leader has chickened out of attending NA's session out of fear of Khawaja Asif and his epic lesson in morality, this party has no agenda.

Sohail | 9 years ago | Reply May Allah rest the souls in peace of those who died heatstrokes. All those not supplied water, electricity not paid the utility bills are responsible. Karachi paid the cost of electricity thefts in form of above 500 human lives. Please say no to kunda culture!

pervaiz | 9 years ago | Reply @Abdullah: first of all tell me what project installed by PPP for electricity production during 2008-13 when he was in govt both at federal and provincial level. Eighteenth amendment allows provinces to produce electricity, what sidh govt did in this regard. Why Sindh govt is not paying electricity bills to K-Electric for his hospitals and waterboard. If no bill is paid then no electricity at all. This is universal accepted rule.

Naveed Alam Khattak | 9 years ago | Reply @Abdullah... What PPP did for producing electricity in their 5 years tenure. They are all same. They are playing with our hearts, minds & feelings. They are accusing central govt as if they have done more than enough and there was no load shedding in their times. They are all responsible for that load shedding and suffering of the people.

pervaiz | 9 years ago | Reply If PPP govt in Pakistan (2008-2013) had installed any power producing project in Pakistan, Sindh would be in better position. Now many power producing projects by help of china are being installed and hopefully we shall see better days in 2017-18.

Abdullah | 9 years ago | Reply @Raja: Why PPP should be ashamed electricity is responsibility of central government which have crippled water system of Karachi,Ministers of central government always complain about electricity given to Karachi,As a native Karachiite i am not surprised that this rasict central government have caused these deaths.

Raja | 9 years ago | Reply Shame on you old fellow, pethatic excuse by PPP.

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