The death of three-year-old Ibrahim near Nipa Chowrangi has left the entertainment industry in deep grief.
Ibrahim went out for shopping with his parents when he fell into an open manhole and died. Rescue teams found his body 15 hours later. His was laid to rest on Monday.
Celebrities reacted with shock and anger as they questioned the failure of the authorities.
Actor Ahsan Khan said, “An open manhole in a public, high-traffic area is 100% the responsibility of the municipal authorities. Maaf kar dena, Ibrahim. Missing manhole covers, stolen covers sold for scrap, zero monitoring, and no emergency nighttime response, what a shame. Karachi has seen 20 to 24 deaths this year because of open manholes and drains.”
Acctress Sajal Aly also expressed frustration on her Instagram story.
She wrote, “Extremely sad and heartbroken. Shame on whoever was responsible for this. Who is responsible for Karachi? Who is responsible for this collapsing, failed system? A child lost his life today, and I cannot even begin to imagine what his parents are going through.”
“They must have been waiting for a miracle, but because we have no functioning system, there was no one to save him. Roads nahi hain, koi system nahi hai. A city that carries the weight of millions, yet receives no care in return,” she added.
Mahira Khan also did not hold back: “I saw the video where the mother cries for her child. Who is responsible for this? The level of insensitivity is unbelievable.”
Actress Fatima Effendi criticised the administration: “The government collects crores through e-challans. Can they not use that money to cover manholes on the roads?”
Actor Durefishan pointed towards the lack of accountability. She wrote, “How politicians need to be questioned in a ‘democratic’ country. We need to ask them for accountability loudly and without fear. Praying for the safety of this brave journalist, for the child’s family, and for the people of Karachi who keep suffering because of the same incompetence again and again. Shame.”
Many other celebrities also demanded strict action to prevent such tragedies in the future.