KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) leader and Deputy Parliamentary Leader in the Sindh Assembly, Taha Ahmed Khan, has written a letter to the Chief Justice of Pakistan, urging him to take suo motu notice of the rising number of deadly traffic accidents in Karachi.

In his letter, Taha expressed deep sorrow over the tragic death of a pregnant woman, her husband, and their child, who was forced to be born prematurely due to the accident, in the recent Malir Halt incident.

He stated that since the beginning of 2025, 207 people have died and 2,623 have been injured in traffic accidents across Karachi. Calling for immediate action, he demanded strict measures against those responsible for the Malir Halt tragedy. "The Sindh government compensates those who die after consuming toxic liquor-why not the citizens of Karachi?" he questioned.

He urged the Chief Justice to impose strict restrictions on the movement of illegal dumpers and heavy vehicles and to take swift steps to ensure the safety of the lives and property of Karachi's citizens. The MQM leader also called for strict legal action against violations of traffic laws and criminal negligence.

He demanded compensation for the families of those killed in accidents, improvements in road conditions, and the installation of streetlights in the city.Taha emphasised that the increasing number of accidents violates Articles 9 and 25 of the Constitution.

He called for strict enforcement of the Motor Vehicle Ordinance 1965 and the Sindh Motor Vehicle Rules 1969, and action against violations under Sections 279 and 304-A of the Pakistan Penal Code.

He further urged the allocation of specific times and routes for heavy vehicles, implementation of speed cameras, effective challan systems, and vehicle fitness checks. "Innocent lives are being lost," he stressed, "and the Supreme Court must take immediate notice."

Earlier, an eyewitness recounted heart-rending details of a tragic road crash in which a recklessly driven water tanker mowed down a young man and his pregnant wife and caused premature birth of their baby who also died on the spot.

The young couple, identified as Abdul Qayum and his wife Zainab and residents of Malir Cantt, were returning home after a pre-delivery check-up at Kohi Goth Hospital when the accident happened near Malir Halt Flyover in Model Colony.

 "We, me and my wife, were riding past Malir Halt on our motorcycle when the tragic accident happened," eyewitness Mashkoor Khan said while speaking exclusively to private TV channel.

My wife was the first to spot the recklessly driven water tanker coming from the wrong side of the road," he recalled. "I also saw it as it brushed against three or four vehicles before running over a sidewalk and crushing a motorcycle-borne couple."

Published in The Daily National Courier, March, 27 2025

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