KARACHI – A City Court has issued show-cause notices to the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and Town Municipal Corporation (TMC) North Nazimabad for failing to compensate a citizen who lost his wife and infant son in a tragic drain accident. Senior Civil Judge Zaheer Hussain Mangi, presiding over the case, ruled that the incident was a direct result of “sheer negligence” by the authorities. The court has ordered the departments to pay over Rs 9.9 million in damages to the victim’s family by March 24.
Case Background
The lawsuit was filed under the Fatal Accidents Act by a citizen whose family fell into an open drain in the Shadman area during the 2022 monsoon rains. The legal counsel for the petitioner stated that the victim was traveling on a motorcycle with his family when they plunged into the overflowing, uncovered nullah. This avoidable accident resulted in the tragic death of the petitioner’s wife and their two-month-old son, Azlan.
Court’s Observations
In a scathing assessment of municipal governance, Judge Mangi noted that the record clearly indicates the accident occurred due to the negligence of the respondents. He remarked that KMC and DMC Central (now TMC) failed to perform their public duties effectively. The judge further emphasized that it is the legal responsibility of these institutions to maintain the sewerage system and ensure the safety of citizens by covering open drains.
Current Status
Despite previous directives, the municipal bodies failed to settle the compensation, leading the court to issue a show-cause notice. The authorities are now under a strict deadline to implement the court’s order and provide the sanctioned amount to the bereaved family.
