ISLAMABAD: Senior MQM-P leader Dr. Farooq Sattar on Tuesday urged the government to establish a judicial commission, headed by the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Yahya Afridi, to thoroughly investigate the devastating fire at Gul Plaza in Karachi.
The fire at Gul Plaza on M.A. Jinnah Road has resulted in at least 26 fatalities, with around 75 individuals reported missing. The National Assembly suspended its regular proceedings to convene an emergency session focused on the incident. This decision came after Law and Justice Minister Azam Nazir Tarar requested to postpone private members’ business so Parliament could debate the tragedy.
During his remarks on the floor, Dr. Sattar criticized the neglect towards Karachi, describing it as a city being treated unfairly. He emphasized the need for an independent judicial inquiry to determine the causes of the fire and the reasons behind the building’s collapse.
He warned that the incident posed a serious national security threat and called for a comprehensive investigation, accusing authorities of systematic negligence and conspiracy against Karachi allegations he described as an act of hostility toward the city and the country.
Sattar highlighted that a broad coalition, including political, religious, legal, business, and civil society groups, had launched the “Save Karachi” movement to address the city’s chronic issues. He pointed out that rehabilitating nearly 1,200 families affected by the fire has become a major humanitarian challenge.
The MQM leader also expressed frustration over the slow response of federal and provincial officials to the scene, and he criticized the absence of local government representatives during the rescue efforts. Additionally, he condemned reports of looting during the rescue operations, calling such acts deeply unsettling and unacceptable.
