Afaq Ahmed gives Sindh govt 48-hour deadline to ban heavy traffic

Founder Mohajir Qaumi Movement-Haqiqi (MQM-H) Afaq Ahmed gave the Sindh government a 48-hout deadline on Sunday to ban heavy traffic in Karachi. If the government fails to comply, he warned that the city will witness protests similar to those that erupted 35 years ago after the tragic death of Sir Syed College student Bushra Zaidi, who was struck by a bus while crossing the road. 

“Numerous appeals have been made to the government to ban heavy traffic roaming in the city, and it is allowed to operate in exchange for bribes, resulting in the loss of hundreds of lives,” said Afaq Ahmed while addressing a press conference in Karachi.

Expressing frustration over the government’s attitude towards Karachi's residents, he stated, “The government does not see the people of Karachi as human beings, but rather sees them as derelicts.”

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“They have never considered people of this city as humans, there was a time when buses crushed the children while racing with each other, The city was in a similar mourning state back then due to fatal accidents,” Afaq noted. 

He recalled the fatal accident of Sir Syed College student Bushra Zaidi, who was hit by a minibus in 1985 while crossing the road to reach the college. The race between two buses led to her tragic death.

The incident sparked citywide protest from students and civil society, when demonstrators set several buses on fire, leading to the arrests and injuries of dozens during the clashes between police and protestors. 

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Afaq Ahmed further said, "The heavy traffic has taken lives of 88 individuals within 50 days.”

“Regrettably, the government has not even offered condolences, nor have they attempted to take measures against it,” he added.

“I want to make it clear that we cannot see more fatalities of our people because it has gone beyond the limit,” MQM-H chief continued. 

Issuing the ultimatum, Afaq Ahmed demanded that the Sindh government compensate the heirs of victims who died in accidents with a minimum of Rs 2.5 million.

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"Within 48 hours, the Sindh government should rid us of corrupt police and ensure that heavy traffic in the metropolis runs according to the designated time," he said.

Afaq Ahmed called for a protest if government fails to comply with his demands. “Heavy traffic should not be seen in daytime across the city, otherwise I am asking to my youth that if heavy traffic continues to operate, it will not be allowed to do so again.”

He urged the youth of Karachi to prove that this city and its people were not abandoned. “Regardless of the consequences, I am ready to save the lives of my people,” he added.

Afaq Ahmed appealed to the Mohajir youth to consider his words as a directive from an elder brother and pledged to put an end to heavy traffic in the city.