Sparks fly in PA over Gul Plaza blaze

MQM-P stages walkout; JI, PTI rile govt over failed rescue operation

KARACHI:

The Members of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) staged a strong protest in the Sindh Assembly on Monday over the Gul Plaza tragedy and walked out of the House after chanting slogans.

Members of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), however, did not join the walkout and remained present in the assembly.

Sindh Minister for Labour Saeed Ghani assured the House 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 Sindh Assembly session, chaired by Deputy Speaker Naveed Anthony, began one hour and 18 minutes late. At the outset, the House observed a sombre atmosphere as members from both treasury and opposition benches expressed grief over the tragedy and offered Fateha for the deceased.

As proceedings began, Saeed Ghani sought permission to make a statement on the incident. MQM-P members stood up, demanding they be allowed to speak first.

The deputy speaker ruled that the minister would complete his statement before other members were given the floor. This triggered loud sloganeering by MQM-P members, who chanted "Zaalimo jawab do, khoon ka hisaab do", before staging a walkout. They did not return to the House for the remainder of the session.

Addressing the House, Saeed Ghani described the Gul Plaza incident as extremely tragic and heartbreaking, stating that the government was not absolving itself of responsibility and acknowledging that lapses may have occurred. He stressed that this was not the time for political point-scoring but for standing with the affected families and traders.

The minister informed the assembly that, according to the latest figures, 14 people had lost their lives, 22 were injured and 62 remained missing. He said the Sindh government had constituted separate committees to conduct transparent investigations into the incident and to oversee the rehabilitation of affected traders.

Recalling the 2012 Baldia factory fire in which 290 people were killed, Saeed 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 declare itself blameless and had ordered a comprehensive inquiry to determine lapses by government institutions, traders and market associations.

He shared the details of the rescue operation.

Although the chief minister and Karachi mayor were not in the city at the time, they remained in constant contact, while elected representatives and advisers visited the site.

Saeed Ghani informed the House that a committee comprising representatives of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, traders' bodies and the Gul Plaza Association had been formed to assess losses and recommend financial assistance. Another committee, headed by the Karachi commissioner and additional IG, would conduct a transparent inquiry into the causes of the fire, with the option to seek forensic assistance from Lahore.

During the debate, JI MPA Muhammad Farooq criticised government oversight and alleged illegal constructions, while PTI MPA Rehan Rajput demanded accountability from the Sindh Building Control Authority and called for a timeline for compensation payments.

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

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