The three individuals who were crushed by a water tanker in Karachi were laid to rest following their funeral prayers.

Mohajir Qaumi Movement leader Afaq Ahmed criticized the Sindh government in the aftermath of the tanker accident that claimed the lives of a husband, wife, and their newborn.

He condemned the continuous occurrences of such incidents, stating that this tragedy transpired just a week before Eid and emphasized that these events are happening under the patronage of the Pakistan People’s Party government.

Afaq lamented that people are dying without anyone coming to their aid and warned that if the public were to block water tankers, he would face legal consequences. Ahmed assured that the situation cannot be tolerated any longer, announcing a show of strength in Karachi on April 12 to address the issue forcefully.

Meanwhile, Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori called for legislation against the dumper mafia, stating that these vehicles do not discriminate who they hit. He emphasized the need to raise awareness about this issue, labeling traffic-related incidents as no less than terrorism.

According to police, the couple identified as 24-year-old Zainab and 26-year-old Abdul Qayyum were residents of Natha Khan.

The husband was taking his wife to the hospital for a check-up when the accident occurred. Both sustained severe injuries and succumbed shortly after.

The horrific accident triggered outrage among bystanders, who attempted to set the tanker on fire. Police and security personnel arrived promptly to restore order and manage traffic.

Driver and assistant arrested

SSP Korangi Tariq Nawaz confirmed that police had arrested the tanker driver and his assistant. “A case will be registered against both suspects,” he said.

Family demands strict punishment

Zainab’s grieving father, Gul Rahman, made an emotional appeal to the media.

“My daughter was pregnant and had only stepped out for treatment. That tanker crushed both my daughter and son-in-law. The driver should be hanged upside down,” he said.

This latest tragedy adds to Karachi’s rising traffic death toll. So far this year, 214 people have lost their lives in road accidents, with 68 fatalities caused by heavy vehicles alone.

Brother demands justice from government

The brother of Abdul Qayyum urged the government to take strict action against the tanker mafia.

Speaking to the media, he expressed his family’s deep grief and frustration over the unchecked presence of heavy vehicles in the city.

The grieving brother shared that he first received the heartbreaking news of Abdul Qayyum’s death from close relatives.

The fatal accident occurred when Abdul Qayyum and his pregnant wife were returning home from Kohi Goth.

“Abdul Qayyum had been married for just a year, and he was eagerly awaiting the birth of his child,” he said, adding that his late brother was an employee of the Cantonment Board Malir and a resident of Malir Cantt.

Demanding immediate government intervention, he urged authorities to crack down on reckless tanker operations to prevent such tragedies from happening again.

“The entry of these heavy vehicles into the city during peak hours must be completely banned,” he insisted, stressing the need for stricter regulations to protect citizens.

Afaq Ahmed visits the grieving family

As soon as he received news of the tragic incident, Mohajir Qaumi Movement Chairman Afaq Ahmed reached the house of the affected family in Malir Halt.

There, he offered condolences to Abdul Qayyum’s brother and then went to the police station to file an FIR regarding the incident.

Expressing his anger, Afaq Ahmed blamed the ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) for corruption and lawlessness, stating that citizens’ lives and property are no longer safe.

“With Eid just a week away, a family has lost three members, yet no one seems to care,” he lamented.

He criticised the government’s double standards, saying, “When citizens protest against water tankers, they face legal action, yet authorities remain indifferent to reckless drivers.”

Afaq Ahmed vowed not to remain silent, declaring, “Those who speak against oppression are labelled traitors, but we will not back down.”

He announced that Karachi will demonstrate its strength on April 12, adding, “We will set things right, even if we have to use force.”

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MNA Asiya Ishaq condemns ‘water tanker mafia’

Asiya Ishaq, a Member of the National Assembly from MQM Pakistan, strongly condemned the deaths of a man and a pregnant woman in Malir Halt after a reckless water tanker crash.

She accused the provincial government of turning a blind eye to the growing menace of reckless water tankers and dumpers, saying, “Karachi’s roads have become a playground for lawless drivers who openly defy government authority.”

Criticising the Sindh government, she remarked, “They claim to rival New York in development, yet a child’s lifeless body on the street exposes their utter failure.”

The water tanker crisis in Karachi has been worsening, with frequent fatal accidents due to negligent driving, sparking outrage among citizens and political leaders alike.