Karachi Political Diary

 Karachi Political Diary

 Mubasher Mir

Civil Awards: Honour or Controversy?

Every year on Pakistan’s Independence Day, the federal government announces civil awards to recognize individuals from various walks of life. In principle, these awards symbolize merit, service, and excellence. Yet, in practice, they often generate controversy.

This year, too, criticism emerged as a significant number of awards went to politicians, ministers, and media figures considered close to ruling circles. Such decisions weaken the credibility of the civil awards and raise the question: is merit truly the only criterion?

A deeper concern lies in regional imbalance. Most recipients come from major cities—Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore—while smaller towns and districts, rich with unsung heroes, remain ignored. This exclusion undermines both talent recognition and the spirit of national inclusivity.

To restore credibility, reforms are urgently needed:

District-level nominations must be made mandatory.

Independent committees should include neutral academics, experts, and civil society members.

Selection criteria should be based on public service, innovation, and social impact.

The nomination and evaluation process should be made public.

Only then can the civil awards rise above controversy and reflect genuine national pride.

Karachi’s Roads: A City Under Siege

While debates around civil awards continue, Karachi faces a far deadlier crisis: its roads have become death traps. Pakistan’s largest metropolis is turning into an open graveyard, where motorcyclists, car passengers, and pedestrians alike live under constant threat.

The statistics are chilling:

In the first seven months of 2025, 546 people died and over 8,100 were injured in traffic accidents.

Heavy vehicles alone caused 165 deaths.

In 2024, 616 deaths were recorded—four times higher than the previous year.

In 2023, the situation was catastrophic: over 1,400 deaths and 18,000 injuries. On average, 500 people were affected daily.

Motorcyclists accounted for 58% of deaths, while pedestrians made up 24%.

Karachi hosts 6.5 million vehicles, of which 4.4 million are motorcycles, the most vulnerable group.

Each day, 15,000–16,000 trucks and 5,000 dumpers enter the city, many with armed guards, spreading fear and chaos.

Broken roads, poor lighting, lack of speed enforcement, and weak law enforcement fuel the carnage. Authorities have imposed night restrictions on heavy vehicles, introduced QR-code certification, and increased fines. A “Karachi Road Accident Analysis Team” has been set up, yet fatalities continue.

As one grieving citizen remarked after losing a family crushed under an oil tanker:

> “This is not an accident; it is the criminal negligence of the state and the transport mafia.”

This is not just Karachi’s tragedy—it is a warning for Pakistan as a whole.

Governance, Politics, and Constitutional Boundaries

The crisis of governance extends beyond traffic. Political tensions deepened when Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to take notice of Governor Sindh Kamran Tessori’s political activities.

By law, a governor is supposed to be neutral, representing the federation, not a political party. Yet, Tessori’s remarks on reviving the “old MQM” and bringing back the “bhai” stirred debate. The Mayor sarcastically commented: “He thinks of himself as the bhai.”

At the same time, Wahab highlighted development projects under PPP’s municipal leadership—such as the K-IV water project (long delayed by successive governments), improvements to the Hub Canal, children’s health centers, and facilities for special children. He claimed these reflect PPP’s commitment to Karachi’s people.

However, critics argue that Karachi’s deep-rooted crises—water shortages, sewage failures, broken transport, collapsing health systems—cannot be solved through piecemeal projects or political point-scoring.

Interestingly, while Wahab insists governors should stay away from politics, Pakistan’s broader reality suggests otherwise. Governors in Punjab and KP also give political statements, and even the President is a party leader. In such a political culture, constitutional neutrality often remains a theory rather than practice.

 Security and Society

Despite fears, Independence Day celebrations and the Chehlum of Imam Hussain (A.S.) were held peacefully across Karachi, thanks to extraordinary efforts by law enforcement and administration. Authorities often demonstrate efficiency in organizing state ceremonies—but far less commitment when it comes to resolving people’s everyday problems.

A tragic development shook the city’s journalistic community when young reporter Khawar Hussain was found dead in his car outside a restaurant in Sanghar, his hometown. Police termed it a suicide, but colleagues demanded an impartial investigation, raising concerns about safety and transparency.

Conclusion: Karachi as a Test Case

Karachi, Pakistan’s economic engine and largest city, is more than a local issue—it is a test case for governance, law enforcement, and constitutional boundaries.

If civil awards remain politicized, if roads continue to claim lives unchecked, and if constitutional offices abandon neutrality, Pakistan risks eroding both public trust and national unity.

The choice is stark: either establish transparency, enforce law, and prioritize citizens’ welfare—or continue watching as both national honours and human lives lose their sanctity.