Like every Eid day, this time too thousands of Karachiites headed to the seafront at the two popular recreation spots, Clifton and Hawkes Bay beaches, to celebrate Eid. Atleast 36 of them, all young people like 12-year-old Mazhar, 17-year-old Khizar, 19-year-old Iqrar and 23-year-old Nazeebullah, ended up drowning while bathing in the sea. An elaborate rescue operation, including deployment of Navy helicopters, was mounted after the fact. The rescuers could only find dead bodies of the victims.
The provincial authorities have been trying to absolve themselves of any responsibility, saying a ban was imposed on swimming "before the start of the monsoon season in June, and police were deployed to implement the ban, but people became violent." Considering that the police have a lot of experience breaking off well-organised political demonstrations, it is hard to believe that they could not block people from going to the beach. It is true, though, that the ban was announced well before the monsoon season. True also that even under normal circumstances the beach staff encounters verbal, even physical, abuse while trying to stop people from swimming during rough season. Needless to say, however, those defying the ban behave badly not because they wish to die but because they are unaware of the danger involved. It is the government's responsibility to educate and inform them. It must also station physically fit and professionally trained lifeguards on the city's beaches at all times. Help can be sought from the Navy for the lifeguards' training. None of this has occurred to the provincial government.
The incident is a tragic reminder that local issues such as this one are best handled by local governments. Unfortunately, ruling parties in Sindh as well as Punjab and KPK, have kept dragging their feet on holding local bodies elections. The Supreme Court's deadline for elections to this third tier of government have come and gone, while these provinces have kept postponing the polls on one pretext or another even though the Election Commission of Pakistan says it is ready to do the needful if given the go-ahead. The reason for the inordinate delay is obvious. The ruling parties in these provinces do not want to cede power to local governments, letting the people undertake development work and resolve local issues, such as maintenance of proper safety standards at Karachi's public beaches. In the present case, no one seems to be taking responsibility for the tragic loss of life. It has been left to the police to say they tried to tell the people that swimming at this time of the year was banned, but they wouldn't listen. Which, given the police track record, is difficult to digest. Besides, it is not merely a policing issue. An elected local government, directly answerable to the local people, would be expected not only to adopt better preventive measures but also post well trained lifeguards to undertake timely rescue efforts.
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