Karachi Gul Plaza tragedy: Farooq Sattar calls for judicial inquiry, families demand justice

KARACHI: As Karachi continues to mourn the devastating Gul Plaza tragedy, MQM-P leader Farooq Sattar urged the Sindh Chief Minister to engage directly with the victims’ families and traders affected by the disaster. Sattar described the incident as a “national tragedy,” noting that more than 100 precious lives have been lost and losses run into billions of rupees.

“The whole of Pakistan is mourning the Gul Plaza tragedy,” Sattar said, adding that the funerals of four people from the same household were recently held in Delhi Colony. He stressed that the government must satisfy the families of all missing persons and maintain close contact with victims.

Sattar called for a transparent judicial inquiry, rejecting the possibility of a probe led by the Karachi Commissioner. “No one will accept the inquiry of Commissioner Karachi,” he said, proposing instead that a judicial commission headed by Supreme Court judges be formed to conduct an independent and impartial investigation. “We are raising questions; this is not politics,” he emphasized.

VICTIM IDENTIFICATION PROGRESS

Meanwhile, authorities reported progress in identifying victims through DNA testing. Officials said the body of Abdul Haseeb was recently identified with the help of Sindh Forensic DNA Lab, which has issued reports for 16 individuals so far. In total, 25 victims of the tragedy have been identified, with recovery efforts continuing at the site.

Rescue teams are in the ninth consecutive day of operations at the third floor of the unstable building. Authorities confirmed that heavy machinery and manual search methods are being used simultaneously to recover additional remains, which are sent to Civil Hospital Karachi for DNA profiling. The confirmed death toll has now risen to 73, though fears remain that more bodies could still be trapped under the debris.

POLITICAL TENSIONS

The tragedy has also intensified political tensions. Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon blamed decades of illegal construction and administrative failures, alleging that these practices proliferated during MQM’s tenure. In response, Farooq Sattar accused the Sindh government of deflecting accountability and called attention to delayed responses by senior officials during the crisis. He also criticized the lack of fire safety preparedness in Karachi, highlighting that hundreds of buildings remain unsafe despite years of government oversight.

As rescue operations, DNA identification, and political debates continue, the Gul Plaza tragedy has reignited urgent discussions about urban safety, governance, and accountability in Pakistan’s largest city.