Court Moved for FIR Against Karachi Mayor Over Toddler’s Death in Manhole
A sessions court in Karachi was approached on Tuesday with a petition seeking the registration of a criminal case against Mayor Murtaza Wahab and several municipal officials over the tragic death of three-year-old Ibrahim, who fell into an open manhole near Nipa. The incident has triggered widespread anger, with the grieving family accusing local authorities of gross negligence and failure to respond on time.
The application, filed by Advocate Sheikh Saqib Ahmed, stated that the toddler lost his life after slipping into an uncovered manhole left unattended despite repeated complaints from residents. The petitioner urged the court to order police to register a case against the Mayor of Karachi, the Chairman of Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town, and other responsible officers, arguing that their negligence directly led to the fatal incident.
Family members of the deceased child said they received no assistance from municipal or district officials at the time of the tragedy. They alleged that rescue teams failed to arrive promptly, forcing the family to spend Rs15,000 to hire a private search team. The delay, they said, reflects a deeply flawed system where citizens are left to fend for themselves even in life-threatening emergencies.
“The public continues to suffer due to an incompetent and corrupt system,” the petitioner argued, maintaining that the officials named in the plea failed to fulfill their basic responsibilities. The application noted that even hours after the accident surfaced, relevant departments showed a complete lack of urgency, raising further concerns over the city’s deteriorating civic management.
The Karachi Mayor, the Chairman of Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town, an Executive Engineer (XEN), and the Project Director have all been named as respondents in the petition. The court is expected to review the plea and determine whether police should be directed to register an FIR.
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