Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab has publicly apologized to the family of Ibrahim, the young boy who died in the Nipa Chowrangi tragedy, accepting full responsibility for the incident.
Speaking at a press conference, the mayor said the heartbreaking event had shaken the entire city and that he deeply shared the family’s grief. He stated that he personally visited Ibrahim’s home, met the family, and apologized without placing blame on anyone else.
Wahab said that Ibrahim’s mother’s cries left him speechless. “May Allah grant them patience. We are all accountable to the family and seek their forgiveness,” he added. The family urged authorities to ensure that such an incident never happens again.
The mayor said that a meeting chaired by the Sindh Chief Minister was held immediately after the incident, and details were shared with the grieving family.
Officials Suspended After Initial Inquiry
Wahab announced that initial disciplinary action has been taken: the relevant Karachi Water Board officer and KMC Senior Director have been suspended, while SSP East and Deputy Commissioner East are also being removed from their positions.
He added that although Rescue 1122 and City Wardens reached the site, they failed to take effective action. An inquiry is underway to determine why the response was inadequate.
Wahab said that once the investigation is completed, all those found responsible will be punished in accordance with the law. “I do not want to play the blame game. This was my responsibility, which is why I am apologising,” he said.
Admits Failure as Mayor
The mayor openly acknowledged that he could not prevent the tragedy despite being in office. He emphasised that the administration is now working to fix systemic issues and establish protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future.
He also shared that new SOPs are being prepared to ensure rapid and effective institutional response in emergencies.
Manholes and Theft Challenge
Wahab highlighted the worsening issue of manhole thefts across Karachi, noting that the city has 245,000 manholes. He said that although stronger lids were introduced, they began disappearing due to theft by drug-addicted groups.
He said he discussed the matter with the Federal Interior Minister, informing him that drug-dependent groups are repeatedly damaging the city’s infrastructure. He stressed that local police are aware of where stolen materials are sold and urged strict action against such networks.
The mayor assured that the government is committed to learning from the tragedy, introducing necessary reforms, and making public the findings of the ongoing inquiry once completed.
