Gul Plaza tragedy: Govt stands shoulder to shoulder with the bereaved: Sharjeel
KARACHI: Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon has said that the Gul Plaza tragedy is a deeply unfortunate and painful incident, which has left every eye tearful and every Pakistani grief-stricken.
This sorrow is not only of the affected families but of all of us, and the Sindh government stands shoulder to shoulder with the bereaved families in this moment of anguish.
Addressing a press conference in Karachi, the Sindh Senior Minister and Provincial Minister for Information, Transport and Mass Transit said that from the very first day of the tragedy, the Sindh government has been working on a single?point agenda: to recover all bodies trapped under the debris.
DNA tests are being conducted, information about 86 missing persons has been received by the government, while the search for others continues, and the administration is working round the clock.
He announced that the families of the deceased will be given Rs10 million (one crore rupees) each, and that the Sindh government will compensate the losses of 1,200 shopkeepers.
He recalled that in the past during the fire incidents at Timber Market and Bolton Market on Ashura the Sindh government had assessed losses through the Chamber of Commerce and compensated the affected traders. This time too, compensation will be provided honestly through a structured and transparent mechanism.
Sharjeel Inam Memon said that human life has no price, and the government wants to ensure that such incidents do not happen again. He also said that a firefighter was martyred during the firefighting operation, and the government equally shares the grief of his family.
He informed that on January 1, 2024, an audit report had been presented and notices were issued to all shops at that time, when a caretaker Chief Minister was in office. For a transparent inquiry into the fire incident, a committee has been tasked to investigate the causes of the fire, any shortcomings in the rescue operation, and other contributing factors. “We are all awaiting the committee’s report,” he said.
According to Sharjeel Inam Memon, a delegation of the Chamber of Commerce met the Sindh Chief Minister and supported the enforcement of fire safety in all buildings. However, he pointed out that across Pakistan, approximately 90 percent of buildings lack fire safety systems, and resistance is often faced when implementing SOPs.
He criticized a political party for demanding that Karachi be handed over to the federal government, questioning whether such incidents would then stop. He alleged that these are the same parties that have burned people alive, adding that during the Ashura tragedy, Bolton Market was set on fire by them while the government later provided relief. “Even today, families are waiting for bodies, and you are doing politics,” he said.
He further said that on May 12, people were selectively killed and targeted with gunfire, and even today, point?scoring is being done on that tragedy.
He emphasized that the protection of people’s lives and property is the government’s responsibility, and that people from all walks of life used to come to Gul Plaza for shopping.
Sharjeel Inam Memon stated that he also presented old videos of Mustafa Kamal, saying that his tone and stance were different when he was Mayor of Karachi. “He used to fight for his leader then, and today he speaks against the same leader. These people keep changing their leaders,” he remarked. He added that he has strong answers to every statement made by Mustafa Kamal, who is currently the Federal Minister for Health, and questioned how many times he had visited Gul Plaza.
He further alleged that during their leader’s strike calls, around 100 people used to be killed daily, asking why conscience and humanity did not awaken at that time. He reiterated that the government’s priority is first to hand over the bodies to the families, then conduct an independent inquiry and bring those responsible to justice.
Responding to a question about statements by Khawaja Asif and Mustafa Kamal against the 18th Constitutional Amendment, he said that if there is opposition, they should raise it in parliament, as shouting on television serves no purpose.
In response to another question, he said that the Pakistan Peoples Party has always shown magnanimity, forgiven others, and given opportunities. From 2008 to 2013, there were no political prisoners. “We have endured jail terms in every era,” he said, adding that the President of Pakistan’s visit to Nine Zero was solely to end politics of chaos and unrest.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026