KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly on Tuesday rejected Jamaat-e-Islami’s adjournment motion seeking debate on the Gul Plaza fire tragedy, with the treasury citing that the House had already extensively discussed the incident a day earlier. The session on Private Members’ Day also featured detailed deliberations on multiple resolutions covering public health, transport, mining, administrative conduct, and sports development.
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) MPA Muhammad Farooq moved the adjournment motion on the Gul Plaza tragedy, but it was not allowed for discussion. Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar opposed the motion, stating that the matter had already been addressed in the House and that the Sindh government had formed a committee to investigate the incident.
Muhammad Farooq argued that only a few members had spoken on the issue previously and demanded inclusion of opposition members in the inquiry committee. The law minister responded that the House should await the committee’s report, which would be presented before the Assembly with all findings. Muhammad Farooq insisted that the report be formally tabled in the House.
The Assembly then took up several resolutions as one by Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) MPA Najam Mirza, calling for effective implementation of the Sindh Prevention and Control of Thalassemia Act, 2013, was unanimously passed. Moving the resolution, he said thalassemia was affecting future generations and noted that prior to 2013 there was no law in Sindh to control the disease. Supporting the resolution, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Zia Lanjar said free thalassemia centres had been established across Sindh.
PPP MPA Asif Musa Gilani presented a resolution stating that a transporters’ strike had severely affected Karachi Port, Port Qasim, and the country’s container flow. Senior Minister for Transport Sharjeel Inam Memon said incidents involving transporters, including vehicle burnings in Karachi, had led to the strike, disrupting port operations. He requested the member to withdraw the resolution, which was done.
A PTI resolution by Muhammad Shabbir Qureshi, seeking fresh auction of coal mine allotments in Sindh at new rates, was rejected. Minister Lanjar said it was not feasible to cancel all allotments in this manner and advised the member to draft resolutions properly, citing lack of substance.
JI MPA Muhammad Farooq also moved a private resolution to extend the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Red Line project from Numaish–Model Town graveyard to the National Highway. Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said such extension required ECNEC approval but assured the member he would raise the issue. Farooq then withdrew the resolution.
During the session, seven MQM MPAs moved a privilege motion against Deputy Commissioner East Karachi Nasrullah Abbasi for alleged inappropriate conduct. Minister Lanjar assured that the DC would meet the members to resolve the issue, leading to withdrawal of the motion. The members were Arsalan Perwaiz, Moid Anver, Muhammad Daniyal, Muhammad Usman, Najam Mirza, Muhammad Aamir Siddiqui, and Farhan Ansari.
Minister for Sports Sardar Muhammad Bakhsh Mehr told the Assembly that a proposal to establish a Sports City in Karachi is under consideration to boost sporting activities. He said illegal encroachments on sports grounds across Sindh would be removed to ensure children and youth have ample opportunities to participate in sports.
Answering written and supplementary questions, he said the Sindh Sports Department successfully organized the National Games after 18 years, inaugurated by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. He also announced plans to hold Sindh Pink Games exclusively for women, noting that female athletes are bringing recognition to Pakistan in sports. The minister confirmed that coaches are available for women players and that the department aims to nurture talent from local competitions to international events, with Special Games planned for 2026.
On financial management, he said that while the National Games in Quetta cost Rs 800 million, Sindh held similar events within Rs 500 million. MQM MPA Muhammad Daniyal highlighted the absence of a swimming pool in Gulistan-e-Johar, to which the minister replied that Olympic swimming pools are planned in Karachi and Hyderabad, and a pool may be built in Gulistan-e-Johar if space permits.
PTI MPA Sajad Soomro noted that playgrounds in Lyari and South Karachi are unfit for children. The minister said the government seeks to provide equal facilities for all. PTI’s Shabbir Qureshi said playgrounds in Karachi have been leased to private individuals who charge fees; the minister clarified that private entities have their own mandate, but sports activity for the poor should remain free. The Sindh Assembly adjourned the session until Friday at 2:30 pm.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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