Gul Plaza fire is one of the worst tragedies in the history of Karachi: JI

KARACHI: Chief of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi, Monem Zafar has said that the Gul Plaza incident is one of the worst tragedies in Karachi’s history and has exposed the gross incompetence of the Sindh government and the mayor of Karachi.

Monem Zafar, along with JI District Secretary and UC Chairman Noman Hameed, visited the homes of two missing traders and two missing laborers affected by the Gul Plaza tragedy on Wednesday. He met the families, expressed solidarity with them, and assured them of Jamaat-e-Islami’s support.

Speaking on the occasion, Monem Zafar said it was deeply alarming that even several hours after the incident, all bodies had not been recovered. He said this clearly reflected the failure and inefficiency of the Sindh government and the city administration.

He said that high-rise commercial buildings across Karachi are being constructed and operated without proper safety arrangements, fire safety plans, or legal approvals. He alleged that the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) is playing with human lives through bribery and deliberate negligence.

Monem Zafar stressed that if Gul Plaza had proper emergency exits, fire alarm systems, sprinklers, and basic rescue facilities, such a huge loss of precious lives could have been prevented.

He added that the rescue operation was neither timely nor adequate, and the fire brigade failed to reach the site with the required machinery and capacity, leaving people trapped in smoke and flames.

According to available information, 84 people are still missing, while 63 bodies have so far been recovered, highlighting the scale and seriousness of the tragedy.

Jamaat-e-Islami demanded that the families of those who lost their lives be given immediate compensation without any delay. The party also called for full and adequate relief for all those affected by the Gul Plaza tragedy.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026