The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) on Wednesday announced observing protest day on June 30 and taking out protest rally on July 2, 2006 in Karachi city against prevailing electricity and water crises in the metropolis.
"We demand of the government to revoke privatisation of the KESC and seek compensation from present KESC administration otherwise, the prevailing electricity and water crises could result widespread and violent riots in the city" senior MMA leader and Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Naib Amir Professor Ghafoor Ahmed told a news conference at Idara Noor-e-Haq here.
Other MMA leaders, including Maulana Abdul Karim Abid, JI Karachi Amir Dr Merajul Huda Siddiqui, Allama Nazir Abbas Naqvi, Maulana Abdul Haleem Ghauri besides, MMA MPAs Nasarullah Shajee and Younus Barai were also present.
Professor Ghafoor said the situation of electricity and water supply in Karachi was deteriorating with each passing day and the people were compelled to take to streets and burn tyres in protest. If the same situation continues for some more days, it can result in riots, looting and other acts of violence, he warned. He said load shedding and power failures were adversely affecting industrial and business activities and so far, the traders community had suffered a loss of over Rs 40 billion while it was also resulting in drastic decline in exports and increased imports.
Criticising Muttahida Qaumi Movement, he said when some issues concerning its role in the government arises, the whole Muttahida team put up camps in Islamabad but in the case of power failures in Karachi for the last many weeks, it remained adamant and unconcerned to people's miseries.