Article:
The recent tragic collapse of Karachi’s iconic Glorious Plaza has revealed a distressing lack of preparedness in the rescue and cleanup operations. As the heavy machinery, specifically a dumper, was removing debris, human remains were inadvertently dropped onto the road. Civilian volunteers, under the guidance of local authorities, carefully transferred the remains to a nearby hospital. A local resident claimed that the administration is being cautious in conducting the search operation, citing the presence of human remains beneath the debris.
It is essential to note that the massive commercial shopping center, Glorious Plaza, was completely destroyed in a fire last week. The tragic incident has resulted in the loss of 67 lives, with 77 people still unaccounted for. The identities of 15 deceased individuals have been confirmed, while 48 bodies have undergone post-mortem examinations. Upon receiving news of the incident, Chief Secretary Zahid Zaman and other officials rushed to the scene to oversee the rescue efforts. The Pakistan Navy successfully conducted a rescue operation in the Arabian Sea, a long-distance feat.
In a separate development, a 20-kilo gold fraud case was cracked in Lahore’s Acherah Sunar Market, where suspects were arrested. Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs, Senator Rana Sanaullah, suggested that Pakistan should form an alliance with Bangladesh in the context of the T20 World Cup. The process of identifying the remains found at the site of the collapsed Glorious Plaza is ongoing. In Rajanpur’s Kachhi area, 24 high-profile robbers surrendered during an operation. The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has decided to rebuild 418 roads across the city. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) in Peshawar’s Regional Tax Office seized 6.4 million kilograms of tobacco green leaf.
Chief Fire Officer Hameed Khan said that the search operation at the Glorious Plaza site is ongoing, with the debris significantly reduced. Coordinator to the Prime Minister for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Umar Ayub, claimed that the PTI has ruined the province and now aims to cause damage to the country. Punjab Governor Sardar Salim Haider addressed the Pakistani community in Glasgow, Scotland, during his visit. Heavy snowfall has been reported in various locations in Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan.
Following the Glorious Plaza tragedy, the Sindh Building Control Authority began conducting a survey of buildings in three districts of Karachi. Defense Minister Khawaja Asif stated that the 18th constitutional amendment is being misinterpreted. Over 3,000 cat-culling cases have been recorded in Karachi since January 1. Human rights lawyer Ramzan Chaudhary and his wife, Iman Mazari, were sentenced in a tweet-related case. The International Cricket Council (ICC) officially banned Bangladesh from participating in the 2026 T20 World Cup.
