KARACHI: The deadly Gul Plaza fire has triggered a sharp political confrontation in Sindh, with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) demanding a judicial inquiry into the blaze that has claimed at least 26 lives, accusing the provincial government of gross negligence and systemic failure in enforcing safety laws.
As the death toll continued to climb on Monday after rescue teams extinguished the fire following nearly 33 hours of relentless efforts, MQM-P leaders intensified their criticism of the Sindh government. The fire erupted late Saturday at the multi-storey Gul Plaza shopping centre in Karachi’s congested business district, causing partial structural collapse and trapping people inside. Rescuers were forced to cut through windows and demolish walls to reach victims amid smoke and debris.
Opposition Leader in the Sindh Assembly Ali Khurshidi said the tragedy had laid bare what he termed the failure of the Pakistan Peoples Party’s 17-year rule in the province. Speaking to journalists outside the assembly, he said the “imaginary image” of Sindh projected in Islamabad had been exposed by repeated fatal incidents. Referring to public anger and protests at the site, he said the ruling party was adept at showcasing achievements through presentations but unwilling to accept responsibility when disasters struck.
MQM-P lawmakers staged a protest inside the Sindh Assembly, chanting slogans against the government near the speaker’s dais before walking out of the session. In response, Sindh Minister for Labour and Human Resources Saeed Ghani accused the opposition of creating disorder instead of constructively representing victims, urging legislators to highlight administrative failures with seriousness and responsibility.
Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said the chief minister had ordered the Karachi commissioner to investigate the incident, stressing that the cause of the fire would only be established after completion of the inquiry. He warned against politicising the tragedy, said emergency preparedness in high-rise buildings was essential, and pointed to the death of a rescue worker as evidence that institutions were performing their duties. He also said the government would compensate traders for their losses.
Meanwhile, traders rejected allegations of illegal construction. Anjuman-e-Tajran Sindh President Javed Qureshi said shops built in the basement parking area had been approved through legal procedures, claiming permissions existed for the basement and ground-plus-one floors. He said traders were facing devastating human and financial losses yet were being unfairly blamed, calling the incident a failure of governance and rescue operations.
The tragedy also echoed in parliament, with senators raising serious concerns over corruption, lax enforcement of building bylaws and the absence of fire safety measures in commercial buildings. Senator Khalida Ateeb questioned how large malls were allowed to operate without emergency exits or functional safety arrangements, while Senator Ali Zafar said corruption and regulatory failure had deadly consequences, urging strict enforcement of laws and punishment for violators.
PPP Senator Sherry Rehman described the incident as deeply tragic, acknowledging that no compensation could truly make up for the loss of lives. She said the fire brigade’s response was delayed due to overcrowding at the site and confirmed that the Sindh chief minister had announced Rs10 million compensation for each bereaved family. Rehman stressed that safety compliance in Karachi must be mandatory and cautioned against politicising the tragedy, saying the Gul Plaza administration should also be held accountable.
As investigations begin, the Gul Plaza fire has once again highlighted Karachi’s chronic governance failures, weak regulatory oversight and the human cost of ignoring safety laws, turning a commercial hub into a symbol of preventable tragedy.
