Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi chief Munam Zafar Khan has accused the Sindh government of deceiving citizens in the name of the Karimabad underpass project.

During a visit to the Karimabad area on Saturday, he said that thousands of people earned their livelihoods from the Karimabad Market, but the project had turned the market into a deserted site and destroyed local businesses.

He urged the authorities to complete the underpass to provide relief to residents and traders of the area.

Highlighting civic issues faced by Karachi residents, Munam Zafar said that instead of facilitating people, the ongoing construction had broken sewerage lines, while water supply had also been disrupted for several months.

He added that under the 18th Amendment, powers were supposed to be devolved to the grassroots level, but that promise was never fulfilled.

“After the 18th Amendment, the share of local governments has only been reduced,” he noted.

Criticising Mayor Murtaza Wahab, the JI leader said, “He claimed that 106 roads in Karachi would be rebuilt. Look at the state of Jahangir Road — the University Road has been dug up in the name of the Red Line project, and at Munawar Chowrangi, no proper alternative routes have been provided.”

He further said that traffic signals were missing in several areas, while diversions and heavy fines had become common. “This is unacceptable,” he added.