Law against water theft to be introduced soon

Karachi
A bill calling for heavy fines and punishments for theft of potable water will soon be introduced in the Sindh Assembly, according to provincial local government and information minister, Sharjeel Inam Memon.
Speaking at a meeting with senior officials of Karachi Water and Sewerage Board on Thursday, he said legislation being proposed for the purpose would make water theft a non-bailable offence besides envisaging imprisonment and heavy fines for people found guilty of committing it. In this regard, he also advised the public to stop using illegal water connections to avoid jail terms and hefty fines. He directed the KWSB officials not to spare anyone found involved in water pilferage from their distribution network.
Meanwhile, sources privy to the impending legislation said the proposed law could call for imprisonment up to three years and fine ranging between Rs0.1 and Rs5 million people involved in water theft.
They said the legislation could be introduced and approve by the Sindh Assembly in a special session that could be convened before the upcoming budget session next month. If a special session cannot be called, the Sindh governor can also promulgate an ordinance to impose legislation against water theft.
The law is being introduced to minimise curtail water theft in urban areas of the province in order to overcome the severe shortage of potable water.

MQM resumes protests
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement(MQM) resumed after two days its week-long protest against what they described as an ‘artificial’ water crisis in the city by a demonstration outside the Civic Centre.
The protests were put on hold due to the Daska incident where two lawyers were allegedly gunned down by the police.
Talking to The News, Amin-ul-Haq, the incharge of party’s media cell, said the MQM had planned a stream of protests against water scarcity. The first protest demonstration was held on May 23 and they continued till May 25 in Baldia Town, before they were halted on account of the Daska incident.
The protests resumed on Thursday after a gap of two days and activists and supporters gathered outside the Civic Centre and chanted slogans against the officials for their discriminators attitude against the people.
Speaking on the occasion, MQM leader Haider Abbas Rizvi demanded that the inauguration of the K-IV does not become a victim of delay since a large number of people in the city were facing acute shortage of water. He said the MQM had submitted proposals to the government so it could provide relief to the people but it seemed that the officials were not serious.
Faisal Subzwari, an MPA from the party, said illegal connections continued to receive water supply while people who paid for services had to brave shortages.

JI plans demos
The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi division has announced the launch of a series of protest demonstrations at 50 locations of the city over the persisting water crisis.
This was announced by JI Karachi chief Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman in a press conference held at the Idara Noor-e-Haq on Thursday. He said the party leadership had planned the first protest demonstration at Jauhar Morr on Thursday, while other protests would be held at Dawood Chowrangi, North Karachi, North Nazimabad, Korangi and other locations.
The JI leader demanded immediate implementation of the K-4 project, investigation of the political recruitments in government departments and availability of uninterrupted power and water supplies during Ramazan.