Sindh Assembly session: MQM protests against govt response to Gul Plaza tragedy

KARACHI: Protests by lawmakers from Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) marred the Sindh Assembly proceedings on Monday as they called for a judicial commission to investigate the Gul Plaza inferno, warning the protest would continue until the demand was accepted.

The protest erupted during the assembly proceedings after the opposition leader was initially not allowed to speak. MQM lawmakers raised slogans and staged a walkout-style protest, prompting the chair to terminate the question hour and allowing the opposition leader to address the House.

The Sindh Assembly session began under the chairmanship of Deputy Speaker Naveed Anthony. As the question hour related to the Excise and Taxation Department commenced, the opposition leader rose on a point of order to speak on the Gul Plaza tragedy. When permission was denied, MQM members gathered in front of the Speaker’s dais and shouted slogans, disrupting proceedings.

Amid the disorder, the Deputy Speaker announced the end of the question hour and invited the opposition leader to speak.

Opposition Leader Ali Khurshidi told the chair that the assembly would not function until a judicial commission was constituted to probe the tragedy.

The Deputy Speaker suggested that a formal motion be moved so the House could decide on the matter.

Khurshidi said that ten days had passed since the Gul Plaza inferno, but no inquiry had been initiated. He alleged that valuable lives were lost due to the incompetence of the Mayor of Karachi and the Chief Minister of Sindh, saying the building continued to burn while both remained silent spectators.

He said the failure of the Sindh government and the local government system had been exposed, adding that an inquiry led by the commissioner was tantamount to “appointing a cat to guard the milk.” He demanded the formation of an independent and impartial judicial commission.

The opposition leader also urged the federal government to fulfil its constitutional responsibility, saying its silence over the tragedy was surprising. “It appears that the lives of Karachi’s citizens have become worthless,” he said.

Warning that such incidents would continue to take place if accountability was ignored, Khurshidi said that MQM would not allow the Gul Plaza tragedy to be buried under a “sweep-it-under-the-rug” approach.

He criticised the Sindh chief minister for addressing the assembly six days after the incident, saying he presented a one-sided narrative before leaving the House. “This will not work anymore,” Khurshidi said, adding that the government would not be allowed to run the House arbitrarily as long as MQM lawmakers were present.

Minister for Home Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar said opposition members should be allowed to express their views in the House and urged the chair to give all lawmakers an opportunity to express their views.

The assembly session was later adjourned until 3 p.m. on Tuesday. The House could not take up the remaining agenda due to the opposition protest.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026