Mustafa Kamal. Photo: FILE
ISLAMABAD/KARACHI:
Although the embers of the deadly Gul Plaza fire are hardly cooling down, the tragedy on Thursday turned into a bitter political clash between the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), reigniting long-running disputes over Karachi’s governance, accountability and control.
Seizing the moment, Union Minister Mustafa Kamal turned his fire on the Sindh government during a press conference at MQM’s Bahadurabad headquarters, declaring that Karachi was being subjected to “democratic terrorism” and even “genocide”.
He demanded that the metropolis be declared Pakistan’s economic capital and brought under federal control, arguing that the city had paid an unbearable price for political compromises made elsewhere.
He demanded that Karachi be declared a federal territory under Articles 148 and 149 of the Constitution and formally recognized as the economic capital of Pakistan, insisting that this could be achieved within the existing constitutional framework.
Kamal said that after 18 years of PPP rule, any question of fires and urban disasters was deflected by reviving the Baldia factory tragedy, adding that today’s MQM-P bore no responsibility for such crimes.
Pointing to political “double standards”, Kamal recalled that there was a time when even the country’s president had sought support from the MQM’s centre, adding that this illustrated selective memory and expedient alliances in national politics.
Kamal further lamented that Karachi was left to tragedy and asked how many more people must burn to death and how many more children must die after falling into open gutters before the state intervened.
He said the city had been handed over to forces under whose watch the daily death toll once crossed triple digits, calling it “open democratic terrorism”.
He rejected “recycled allegations” such as quota systems for extortion, saying none of it justified the current breakdown of governance.
Referring to repeated fires, including incidents during MQM’s mayoral tenure, such as the Bolton Market fire, Kamal said disasters had spared no political era, but accountability remained elusive.
He argued that even a willing prime minister was prevented from acting for Karachi because discontent with the PPP could destabilize governments, whether it was during Imran Khan’s tenure, the no-confidence motion or the current coalition.
PPP strikes back
Meanwhile, the Sindh government hit back hard. Senior Sindh Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon dismissed the demand to hand over Karachi to the federation, saying such calls were made by those who “had burnt people alive for extortion money”.
Speaking at a press conference in Karachi, Memon said blaming the 18th Amendment and proposing federal control would not prevent tragedies.
Responding to Mustafa Kamal, he said he would answer him in his own words and recall the Baldia factory fire, the May 12 violence and the Bolton Market arson after Ashura, which he said had been documented in JIT reports.
Memon accused the MQM-P of depriving traders of their livelihood and questioned the timing of political rhetoric as families of Gul Plaza victims were still searching for their loved ones.
He played clips from Kamal’s previous press conferences and referred to Kamal’s remarks about the MQM-P leadership and coalition partners, as well as complaints about his behavior during his tenure as Karachi’s mayor.
Memon said that despite strong reactions, the Sindh government would avoid political point-scoring and stand with the bereaved families.
He questioned whether Kamal, who introduces himself as Karachi’s representative and is the federal health minister, had even visited the site or contacted the families of the victims.
Calling the Gul Plaza incident tragic and heartbreaking, Memon said every Pakistani was grieving and human life had no price. He said the government was working on a one-point agenda: recovery and accountability.
According to him, the bodies were retrieved and handed over to families, identification was underway through DNA tests and of the 86 people initially reported missing, two had been located in hospitals while search operations continued for the rest.
He said the Chief Minister had met affected families and assured them of full support, citing earlier compensation efforts after market fires in the past.
Memon added that an inspection report prepared in January 2024 had been forwarded to the commissioner and deputy commissioner and investigations would determine whether Gul Plaza had received notices and whether negligence occurred during the caretaker government’s tenure.
He said action would be taken where lapses were found. Stressing the need for preventive measures, Memon said traders had been consulted, fire safety compliance would be enforced and while nearly 90 percent of buildings across Pakistan lacked proper fire exits and equipment, SOPs were being implemented in new constructions.
He also revealed that the government was considering interest-free loans for affected traders and cracked down on attempts to politicize the tragedy, warning of unrest and paid campaigns in its wake.
He added that similar political opposition had previously arisen against the e-callan system despite its role in improving Karachi’s transport discipline.
