Water shortages: JI Karachi says it will hold protest tomorrow

KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi has announced a citywide protest on Friday against the worsening water shortage in the city, warning that it may also call a strike if the supply situation does not improve immediately. The decision was taken at a meeting of district leaders held at Idara Noor-i-Haq on Wednesday, chaired by acting JI Karachi chief and opposition leader in the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, Saifuddin Advocate. Participants reviewed the city’s deteriorating civic conditions, with particular focus on the severe water crisis affecting residents across Karachi. The meeting expressed deep concern over the prolonged disruption in water supply and strongly criticised the Sindh government, the city mayor and the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation for what it described as incompetence, mismanagement and poor performance. The party warned that if immediate steps were not taken to restore normal supply, large-scale protests would be organised throughout the city. Addressing the meeting, Saifuddin said the mayor, who also chairs the water corporation, bore direct responsibility for the crisis and the hardships being faced by citizens. He said that despite an earlier JI ultimatum, water supply had not been restored, prompting the party to announce Friday’s protest. He added that if the situation did not improve, a strike in Karachi could also be considered. Saifuddin said a tanker mafia had taken control of the city’s water supply system, forcing residents to purchase water at high prices while pipeline supplies remained unavailable. The meeting condemned what participants described as official patronage of the tanker mafia, illegal water connections and alleged interference by political elements and distribution staff in the valve-based water supply system. Saifuddin reiterated that JI had consistently raised its voice for the rights of Karachi’s residents and had campaigned against what it termed the exploitative policies of K-Electric, both through public protests and regulatory forums. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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