Isn’t it a cruel joke that instead of taking immediate action against negligent officials and providing compensation to the villagers, devastated by fire, Chief Minister just offers Fateha and announces a ‘High Level Inquiry’?
The entire village of Faiz Muhammad Chandio, located in Taluka Mehar of Dadu district was reduced to ashes when the fire erupted late on Monday night and continued to devastate the area till the next morning. During the whole night, neither the fire tenders appeared to douse the fire nor any official of district and Taluka administration rushed there to rescue the villagers. The result was that nine people including children were burnt alive, dozens sustained severe burn injuries, and a large number of cattle were perished.
But the Chief Minister Murad Shah and his some of ministers found time only on Wednesday evening when they got a little time after attending funeral of a MQM-man, who had a natural death in Karachi. The tragic incident in Mehar village was not so important to them.
Their indifferent attitude is evident from an official handout issued by Sindh Information Department late Wednesday night which says, “Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has visited the fire erupting area of village Faiz Muhammad Chandio on today and enquired about the incident from villagers and relevant officers. Minister of local Government Syed Nasir Shah, Fayaz Ahmed Butt, Nawab Wassan, MNA Rafique Ahmed Jamali, MPA Kulsoom Chandio, PPP leader Dastagir Gurar, Divisional Commissioner Hyderabad Nadeem Ur Rehman Memon, DIG Pir Muhammad Shah, and officers of District Administration Dadu were also present on the spot”.
Handout further says, “Chief Minister reached at the place where few days ago fire engulfed the village in which more than nine people, including kids, were killed and scores of others injured. Murad Ali Shah offered Fateha and condoled with the bereaved families and enquired about the health of injured persons. On this occasion, Chief Minister said that the impression is wrong that Sindh government and district administration of Dadu provided late assistance to the victims of fire incident and added that Sindh government will provide the relief and possible assistance to the victims. He also announced that the high level investigation would be carried out to probe into the fire incident and strict actions would also be taken against those who would be found negligent. He further said that Fareedabad would also be given the status of the Town Committee”.
The official statement itself admits the loss of human lives, livestock and households and yet the Chief Minister says ‘the impression is wrong that Sindh government and district administration of Dadu provided late assistance to the victims.’ He didn’t realize the criminal negligence of all the concerned government agencies nor did he feel guilty of his government’s failure in ensuring availability of firefighting services across the province where such incidents are occurring frequently.
Isn’t it a cruel joke that instead of taking immediate action against negligent officials and providing compensation to the villagers, devastated by fire, Chief Minister just offers Fateha and announces a ‘High Level Inquiry’?
Sanwal
Khairpur, Sindh
