Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Memon has strongly criticized television host Tabish Hashmi for making controversial comments regarding the governance of Karachi.
Speaking to the media, Memon described the remarks as “irresponsible” and expressed concern over commentary that he said unfairly targeted Karachi and Sindh. Without naming Hashmi directly, he labeled the statements as “foolish” and “stupid,” questioning the commentator’s grasp of constitutional and legal realities.
“The person making these claims neither understands constitutional law nor appreciates Sindh’s historical and geographical significance,” the minister said, adding that such statements demonstrate a “serious lack of awareness about Sindh’s constitutional role within Pakistan.”
Sharjeel Memon called on the television channel to conduct an internal review of the broadcast and take appropriate disciplinary measures. He emphasized that media outlets must uphold responsible journalism and avoid spreading misleading narratives about Karachi and Sindh.
The controversy arose after Hashmi commented on Karachi’s governance in the aftermath of the Gul Plaza fire incident. During the program, he suggested privatizing Karachi, comparing it with the government’s decision to privatize Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).
“If the government decided to privatize PIA because it could not run it, then Karachi should be privatized as well. We, the people of Karachi—Pathans, Baloch, Sindhis, Muhajirs, Punjabis—can manage it ourselves,” Hashmi remarked. He added that the city could not be governed worse than it currently is.
His statements sparked immediate backlash from Sindh government officials and political stakeholders, triggering calls for greater accountability in media commentary.
