KARACHI: The owners of water tanker trucks staged a protest demonstration outside the office of the Managing Director (MD) Karachi Water and Sewerage Board at Shahrah-e-Faisal on Thursday.
Protesting water tanker owners demanded of the government that corrupt contracting system should be ended from the city hydrants. They demanded that the hydrants should operate under the supervision of government.
They said that in past, the administration of hydrants of Karachi remained in the hands of the Rangers and there was zero corruption in that period.
Later, the ruling parties insisted on relieving the Rangers from hydrants and mega corruption was done by selling of water in Karachi in which both major ruling parties of Sindh remained closely involved.
The tanker owners demanded to end mega corruption from hydrants of Karachi and ensure transparency in their affairs.
A worst traffic jam was observed on Thursday at various busiest roads of metropolis while Additional Investigation General (IG) of Traffic Police, Khadim Hussain, was removed over alleged corruption charges.
According to reports, a severe traffic jam was witnessed at various major roads including Shahrah-e-Faisal, Airport Road, Malir, Tariq Road, KDA, NIPA, Karsaz Road, Baloch Colony Road to Clifton and other parts of the city due to protest by the All Pakistan Tankers Association (APTA) for
their demands.
The protest of APTA started from Shahrah-e-Faisal against the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KW&SB) Office near Awami Markaz, which resulted in massive traffic jam.
The ambulances were stuck in due to heavy result of the blockage at certain locations. During the traffic jam, quarrel between the public and traffic wardens was also witnessed, while motorists and commuters in public transport remained stuck for hours.
The All Pakistan Tankers Association President Tariq Sadozai has alleged that KW&SB Managing Director Misbah Farid was removed three times from his post and again reposted through corruption and he was
also jailed.
He said KW&SB MD Misbah Farid had registered fake FIR against him for the attack on his office adding that they have right to hold protest for their genuine issues.
The APTA president said, “KW&SB MD is allowing their favorite contractors and getting heavy extortion money allowing their contractors for filling repeatedly from hydrants and earning Rs 3.3 million for each tanker monthly. He said the APTA has demanded to reduce the rate of water during the month of Ramadan, but KW&SB MD refused.
Tariq Sadozai told Daily Times that thousands of workers are unemployed due to this corruption and mismanagement and KW&SB MD making worst law and order situation after their protest but non of the official is ready to talk to end
the situation.
While talking to Daily Times, KW&SB Managing Director Misbah Fariduddin said that the demands of APTA are only for commercial purposes, which he cannot permit according to the Supreme Court orders. He directed to remove illegal water hydrants.
He also refused any talk with the tankers mafia and said that he is not responsible of law and order situation or any kind of their illegal demands.