Sindh Senior Minister Syed Sharjeel Inam Memon recently stated that he will not resign in response to demands from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leadership, as he had resigned when they ordered the city to be locked down. In an interview with Geo News, Memon stated that the MQM has been politicizing the tragic incident at the Gul Plaza since the second day of the incident.
The MQM’s senior leader, Dr. Farooq Sattar, had demanded that Sindh Chief Minister, Minister of Information, and the Mayor of Karachi submit their resignations, stating that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is not a meeting-friendly leader. Sattar claimed that they had not barred the judicial commission, saying that they would accept the commission’s report and implement its decisions. However, he argued that the final report has not been submitted, and the MQM is staging a spectacle.
Sindh Senior Minister Syed Sharjeel Inam Memon responded by stating that he would not submit his resignation at the behest of the MQM leadership, which had previously ordered the city to be locked down. He claimed that the MQM was staging an unusual spectacle, first accusing the government of insecurity and then demanding that security be reinstated. Memon stated that he would only submit his resignation if the party leadership ordered him to do so.
Meanwhile, the Mayor of Karachi, Murtaza Wahab, stated that the investigation report into the Gul Plaza tragedy would be submitted by tomorrow. He stated that the Lahore Forensic Laboratory had been consulted, and they wanted to expedite the investigation into the incident.
In a separate development, President Asif Ali Zardari met with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President of the United Arab Emirates, to discuss ways to further strengthen bilateral relations between Pakistan and the UAE.
Chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Lieutenant General (retd) Nazeer Ahmed, stated that Karachi could be used to clear Pakistan’s entire debt. The Ministry of Health Services issued a warning and advisory regarding the spread of the Nipah virus from India.
The families of those who lost their lives in the Gul Plaza tragedy demanded the return of their loved ones’ bodies. Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Faisal Kundi, stated that the issue of Tora Bora’s affected people is not a matter of political rhetoric but a pressing need for a solution. Punjab Chief Minister, Maryam Nawaz, stated that anyone who talks about spreading chaos in a country should be barred and not listened to.
The Federal Minister for Religious Affairs, Sardar Muhammad Yousuf, was questioned by the federal government regarding the proposed domestic violence bill and child marriages. The MQM’s senior leader, Hyder Abbas Rizvi, stated that the Sindh government is guilty of professional negligence.
Senator and leader of the opposition in the Senate, Raja Nasir Abbas, stated that Pakistan has stifled the freedom of expression by passing the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulations Act. The Federal Minister for Planning and Development, Ahsan Iqbal, stated that the world acknowledges Pakistan’s achievements.
A consignment of essential items was delivered to the Adiala Jail for the wife of PTI’s founder and chairman, Imran Khan. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) uncovered the largest single corruption case in its history.
Sindh Senior Minister Syed Sharjeel Inam Memon challenged the MQM’s leadership, questioning their demands for Karachi. The Gul Plaza tragedy raised questions about the delay of the rescue team, which took around 40 minutes to reach the site. The Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs, Gilgit-Baltistan, and the Northern Areas, Amir Muqam, stated that the people of Kashmir are fighting for freedom, and Pakistan is supporting them on all forums.
