Emotions flare in Sindh Assembly as opposition attacks govt over ‘failed rescue operation’ at Gul Plaza

KARACHI:

Opposition lawmakers on Monday attacked the provincial government in the Sindh Assembly for what they said was a “botched rescue operation” to save lives and control the fire at Karachi’s Gul Plaza shopping mall.

Expressing immense concern, lawmakers of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) came out of the house while chanting slogans against the government while members of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) remained present.

Sindh Labor Minister Saeed Ghani assured the AMPs that the Sindh government would not abandon the affected traders and would take all possible measures to restore businesses, compensate the families of the deceased and prevent similar incidents in the future.

The session, chaired by Vice President Naveed Anthony, began with a delay of one hour and 18 minutes. At first, the chamber observed a somber atmosphere as members of both Treasury and the opposition expressed their grief over the tragedy and offered prayers for the deceased.

As the process began, Ghani asked for permission to make a statement about the incident. Later, MQM-P members stood up and demanded that they be allowed to speak first.

The Vice President decided that other members would be given the floor after the Minister completed his statement. This led to loud chanting by MQM-P members, who chanted slogans calling for accountability before going on strike. They did not return for the rest of the session.

In his speech, Ghani called the Gul Plaza incident “extremely tragic and heartbreaking,” stating that the government does not absolve itself of responsibility and acknowledging that failures may have occurred. He stressed that this was not the time to score political points but to support the people affected.

He said the Sindh government had constituted committees to conduct transparent investigations into the incident and monitor the rehabilitation of the affected traders.

Recalling the Baldia factory fire in 2012, in which 290 people lost their lives, Ghani said the Gul Plaza incident was the “most serious” fire-related tragedy since then. He said Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah had clearly stated that the government would not plead innocent and ordered an inquiry to ascertain failures on the part of government institutions, traders and market associations.

He also shared the details of the rescue operation, adding that although the Prime Minister and the Mayor of Karachi were not in the city at the time, they remained in constant touch, while elected representatives and advisors visited the site.

Ghani informed the House that a committee comprising representatives of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry and traders’ bodies, including the Gul Plaza Association, had been formed to assess the losses and recommend financial assistance. Another committee, headed by Karachi commissioner and additional inspector general of police, would conduct a transparent investigation into the causes of the fire, with the option of seeking forensic assistance in Lahore.

During the debate, JI MPA Muhammad Farooq criticized government oversight and alleged illegal constructions, while PTI MPA Rehan Rajput held the Sindh Building Control Authority accountable and asked for a timeline for compensation payments.

Sindh Local Government Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah urged members to avoid politicizing the tragedy and assured full government support to the affected traders. He said the government was willing to order a judicial inquiry if necessary.

Subsequently, the Sindh Assembly session was adjourned till 2 pm on Tuesday, while the Question Hour could not be held due to the tense atmosphere.