ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly debated the Karachi Gul Plaza fire on Tuesday, highlighting accountability, emergency response, and the need for empowered local governments. MQM-P leader Farooq Sattar described the blaze as a “national tragedy” and criticized the Sindh government and city authorities for negligence and delayed action. The fire, which broke out late Saturday night, has claimed at least 28 lives, with dozens still unaccounted for.
During the session, MQM-P members tore up agenda papers, demanding that routine business be suspended to focus solely on the Karachi tragedy. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar later moved a motion to defer the remaining agenda, approved by Deputy Speaker Ghulam Mustafa Shah. Sattar argued that decades of neglect had left Karachi critically short of firefighting resources and called for accountability, paying tribute to firefighter Furqan Ali, who died battling the blaze. He reiterated the need for stronger local governments, noting that a city of Karachi’s size could not be managed by a chief minister alone.
PPP lawmaker Shehla Raza defended the Sindh government, emphasizing effective emergency management over immediate ministerial visits. She acknowledged delays due to traffic congestion but said Sindh has a functioning local government system. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif supported the call for empowered local governments, stating it was “humanly impossible” to manage Karachi under the current administrative structure. He stressed that concentrated authority in provincial capitals weakened governance and that the spirit of the 18th Amendment had yet to be realized.
MQM-P lawmaker Wasim Hussain accused political rivals of past complicity in Karachi’s problems, including developments linked to Gul Plaza. PPP’s Abdul Qadir Patel rejected the claims, asserting the Sindh government remained committed to stabilizing the city and supporting fire victims.
The debate also touched on disaster coordination, internally displaced persons, and tribal area funding, with PTI and JUI-F lawmakers raising concerns about winter displacement in Khyber and Waziristan. Former speaker Asad Qaiser criticized the federal government for withholding funds owed to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa under the NFC Award. Several bills, including constitutional amendments, were referred to standing committees, and the session adjourned until Wednesday at 11am.
The Gul Plaza fire has reignited discussions on Karachi’s emergency preparedness, accountability of provincial and city authorities, and the critical need for stronger, autonomous local governments to ensure timely disaster response and public safety.
