Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori wrote to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi on Thursday urging him to take notice of the rising cases of fatal traffic accidents in Karachi.
In his letter, Tessori said that he sought to bring to the attention of the Supreme Court the alarming rise in fatal accidents involving dumpers and tankers in the city.
He pointed out that this year alone, over 70 fatalities have already been reported in the media. He particularly highlighted the March 24 incident, in which a speeding water bowser ran over a motorbike carrying Abdul Qayyum and his wife Zainab at Malir Halt.
He said the couple and their newborn child, who was given birth to on the road after the accident, lost their lives in the incident. He referred to the prior correspondence with the Sindh High Court’s (SHC) former chief justice (February 6) and acting chief justice (February 14), in which they were requested to ensure the strict implementation of the SHC’s directives, and to take notice of the administrative lapses leading to fatal accidents.
Tessori urged that in the light of the continuous fatalities and the apparent lack of effective intervention on the part of the administration, the SC take notice of this grave situation and order that immediate and decisive action be taken by all the relevant authorities to address the matter.
“The people of Karachi are now looking to the judiciary for the implementation of strong and effective measures to ensure their safety and to address the underlying issues leading to such horrific accidents.”
He anticipated that the SC would take immediate cognisance of this pressing issue, initiate proceedings at the court’s Karachi registry and ensure that the necessary steps are taken to safeguard the lives of the city’s residents.
