The monsoon rains have been wreaking havoc in the port city of Karachi and have been termed the worst of its kind in 90 years. The torrential rains and stormy weather have brought Karachi and its adjoining villages to a standstill, leaving residents with not much to do. As the rain briefly came to a halt, the damage was already done. Many parts of the city remained without electricity for over 24 hours, while many people lost their homes and suffered immenses losses to their businesses.
Netizens and Karachi residents took to social media to apprise others of the situation in the city, seeking help and finding ways to help each other. Meanwhile, celebs too took to social media and shared their two cents on the matter at hand. Most posts, including those from Shaniera Akram, Anoushey Ashraf and Ayesha Omar were empathetic towards the situation however, there was one post that irked many.
Urwa Hocane took to Twitter and shared her views on the situation, stating that the residents and the people of Karachi were also to blame for the damage caused by the monsoon weather. She questions whether the people of Karachi cared about their city. “No doubt, the government didn’t care, but did we?” she questioned. “Time to stop complaining and do something on our own,” she went on. “Govt doesn’t have a magic wand.”
1/2 No doubt the government didn’t care about the city but did we ! time to stop complaining & do something on our own & fix atleast our own colony issues in Karachi ! We can’t even stop throwing the garbage everywhere we like. Gov doesn’t have a magic wand! #KarachiRains
— URWA HOCANE (@VJURWA) August 27, 2020
“It’s the people who have to work hand in hand with the government! How many of you can come up with a solution. Why don’t we start somewhere. Sab kuch govt ka kaam nahin hota! (everything is not the government’s job) Khud bhi kuch sochain, haath pe haath rakh ke baithney k ilawa. (Think of something yourself, instead of just sitting around),” she concluded.
While a number of people on the micro blogging site agreed with the Rangeza star, the majority were in disagreement with her statement, terming them insensitive and lacking empathy. “God this is embarrassing, delete it,” wrote one user, while another wrote, “Paying excessive amounts of taxes yet facing power shortages, no water, no gas, terrible infrastructure should be enough suffering for the people who get their hopes up each time a lying politician comes to steal votes and then forgets Karachi’s existence. Please educate yourself.”
Paying excessive amounts of taxes yet facing power shortages, no water, no gas, terrible infrastructure should be enough suffering for the people who get their hopes up each time a lying politician comes to steal votes, and then forgets Karachis existence. Please educate yourself
— Laiba Farhan (@laiburfurhan) August 27, 2020
Many Twitter users requested Urwa to stop making such ill-informed statements while others pointed out the high taxes citizens pay for everything to be in working order. While some agreed that as residents of the city we can do our part to keep it clean, they also asserted that it is the job of the government to protect its citizens.
http://brownidentity.com/2020/08/29/mehwish-hayat-hits-back-at-gutter-journalism-in-latest-posts/
Here’s just some more of what people had to say:
This is such a one sided, un-nuanced argument to make. Yes we should be better but an un-functioning drainage system is not for the people to fix. An entire city is drowning and not one person in power did anything to stop it despite warning well in advance.
— Alina Halai (@alihoenahoe) August 27, 2020
i think you should keep your opinions to yourself ??
— try baby (@ughrooj) August 27, 2020
There is so much wrong here, and sadly it highlights your inability to be compassionate to a large proportion of the population who can’t do anything to improve or pre-empt flooding in their homes. The Gov is supposed to protects its population, particularly the most vulnerable.
— Naveen Rizvi (@naveenfrizvi) August 27, 2020
Agar sab kuch humein hi karna hai to phir government ki zaroorat hi nai
— Sana Afridi (@afridi792) August 27, 2020
so you're telling a population of 2 crores to organize by themselves and magically create the resources to deal with global warming???? Are you insane??????????? pic.twitter.com/OtfZhJxRdM
— ? ?? zoon ? ? (@khoonsurat_) August 27, 2020
han taxes toh government ko ludo khelne k liye dete hain#predictedgradesforoctnov
— ok kiss .-. (@panyakkian) August 27, 2020
