Pasban Democratic Party Karachi President Abdul Hakeem Qadir condemned the collapse of a six-story residential building in Lyari’s Baghdadi area, which resulted in three deaths and several people trapped under the debris. Abdul Hakeem Qadir blamed the Sindh government’s negligence for this tragedy and strongly criticized their apathy towards Karachi.
He pointed to the dilapidated condition of more than five hundred buildings in the city and questioned the Chief Minister’s response. Abdul Hakeem Qadir termed the government investigation after the incident meaningless. He declared the Mayor of Karachi’s statement regarding the number of survivors as incorrect. Criticism was also directed at the government for not evacuating the building declared dangerous.
Abdul Hakeem Qadir demanded reforms in the “Pagri” ownership system. He accused the ruling party (PPP) of destroying Karachi, resulting in preventable deaths. He demanded action against those responsible and questioned the performance of allegedly corrupt officials. He also expressed regret over the lack of legal action against high-ranking officials in such matters. He also criticized the administration’s lack of preparedness for the torrential rain.
Abdul Hakeem Qadir blamed the nexus of builders, Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), and extortion gangs for the substandard construction. He detailed how these groups, posing as government representatives, extort money from construction projects, especially in Lyari and the old city, by threatening demolition. He also revealed the local police’s complicity in this corruption, which further compromises the quality of buildings. He exposed the existence of fraudulent NGOs involved in extortion and demanded action against them. Karachi’s poor sewerage and drainage system were also cited as factors weakening the foundations of buildings. Abdul Hakeem Qadir proposed a drastic measure: a one-month imprisonment for all SBCA officers as a final solution.