KARACHI: It has become difficult for the poor to get water. We are in favour of having hydrants outside of the city and in order to prevent water from being stolen, we insist that meters be placed on hydrants.

This was demanded by the All Karachi Water Tankers Ittehad during a press conference at the Karachi Press Club on Thursday afternoon.

M Zahid Khan, a member of the Ittehad (alliance) said the alliance for the last one year had been trying through its demands to bring to the notice of the authorities concerned a number of issues related to water supply, and in that regard gave a longlist to point out how water theft was taking place. He said but time was wasted in the name of negotiations and the administration (intizamia) found itself helpless in front of the hydrants mafia. He said when the alliance again protested on the issue, its innocent members were arrested under the Terrorism Act. He said at the time of making the case against them, members of the electronic and print media were present. He requested the IG of Sindh to watch the footage of the incident and conduct an impartial inquiry. He said the footage proved that those who were arrested were innocent.

Mr Khan said contrary to what the MD of the Water Board had claimed the alliance was in favour of shifting all the hydrants outside of the city. He added in order to stop water from being stolen it was the alliance`s demand to place meters on the hydrants. He said as of nowwater worth Rs35crore was being sold, whereas the board was paid only rupees one crore. He said it should be made clear that after the merging of two organisations of owners of water tankers, the Ittehad was the only true representative of the tanker owners.

The leader of the All Karachi Tankers Ittehad Tariq Sodazai said the government was adamant that it would eliminate corruption from society, but how could it do that if institutions were headed by corrupt people. He said most of his colleagues that the police arrested were drivers. He said they were arrested under the Terrorism Act.

He said he could vouch that none of them was even carrying a stick leave alone indulge in a road-blocking activity. He said the police was misusing the Act at will. He said due to the situation the poor were unable to get water.