KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) took to the streets in Karachi on Friday, staging protests in response to the alarming number of fatalities caused by heavy traffic in the city. The protests, aimed at urging the Sindh government to take immediate action, were held at 15 locations across Karachi, including Liaquatabad, Hub River Road, University Road, Orangi Town, Korangi Road, Ahsanabad, Quaidabad, Sher Shah Suri Highway, Rashid Minhas Road, Kala Pul, Garden, Hydari Bus Stop, Power House Chowrangi, and North Karachi.
The demonstrations sought to draw attention to the dangers posed by heavy traffic and pressure authorities into taking swift steps to prevent further deaths.
Rising Death Toll in Traffic Accidents
At the protest held at Liaquatabad, Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi Chief Monem Zafar delivered a speech, highlighting the growing death toll from traffic accidents in the city. He stated that 110 Karachiites had lost their lives, and over 1,500 others had been injured in traffic accidents in just the first 50 days of 2025. He also pointed out that 775 citizens had died in accidents involving dumpers and tankers.
Zafar strongly criticized the response of Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, who had referred to the deaths as an “administrative matter,” and emphasized that the rise in fatalities was directly linked to government incompetence.
“These deaths are not just statistics. They are lives lost due to the government’s failure to implement proper traffic safety measures,” Zafar asserted. He also drew attention to other pressing issues in Karachi, such as the rampant street crimes and armed robberies, which claimed the lives of 70,000 citizens in 2024. He stressed that the situation in Karachi was dire, with children falling into open manholes and becoming victims of the city’s unchecked urban issues.
Demand for Immediate Action
Zafar’s speech also included a call for the government to take immediate action, including diverting heavy traffic, such as dumpers and tankers, away from the city center and onto the northern bypass. He argued that this step could reduce the number of fatal accidents and ease the strain on the city’s roads.
Meanwhile, reports from local rescue services confirmed a worrying increase in traffic-related fatalities. According to statistics, Karachi saw 107 deaths in just the first 45 days of 2025. The victims included 78 men, 14 women, 11 children, and 4 girls. Additionally, 1,493 people were injured in traffic accidents, with the injured comprising 629 men, 193 women, 42 children, and 18 girls.
Heavy Vehicles Linked to Most Accidents
The Chhipa Welfare Association’s report further highlighted that many of these accidents involved heavy vehicles, such as dumpers, trailers, and oil tankers. The rescue service confirmed that the majority of these incidents could have been prevented with better traffic management and stricter enforcement of road safety regulations.
The protests by Jamaat-e-Islami aim to push the Sindh government into addressing the increasing number of fatalities linked to heavy traffic. While the government has yet to respond, the pressure from civil society and political parties like JI is mounting, with calls for urgent reforms in the city’s traffic system to save lives.
