Pakistan is gripped by a deepening crisis as the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader, Dr. Farooq Sattar, demands the resignation of the Sindh Chief Minister, the Minister of Information, and the Mayor of Karachi. In a press conference held in Karachi, Dr. Sattar urged Bilawal Bhutto to accept their resignation.
Dr. Sattar questioned the security provided by the government, saying, “If our security is not guaranteed, what’s the point of seeking it from Islamabad?” He also expressed frustration with the government’s attempts to divert attention from the tragic incident at the Gul Plaza. “This time, it won’t be just a tragedy; it will be a catastrophe,” he warned.
The Mayor of Karachi, Murtaza Wahab, announced that the investigative report on the Gul Plaza tragedy will be released on Tuesday. Dr. Sattar remained resolute, stating that they would not back down from their demands, even if it meant losing their security or facing false charges.
“We have faced false charges in the past, but this time, we will ensure that the families of the victims receive justice,” Dr. Sattar emphasized. He also called on Bilawal Bhutto to hand over the administration of Karachi to the federal government.
The MQM leader further accused the government of burdening Karachi with excessive responsibilities, saying, “You have put so much pressure on Karachi that it’s on the verge of collapse. You are abandoning Karachi, and this is your way of telling us that you’re not responsible for its well-being.”
The crisis in Pakistan escalated as the country’s top politicians and officials engaged in a heated debate over the government’s handling of the situation. President Asif Ali Zardari met with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President of the United Arab Emirates, to discuss the strengthening of bilateral ties between the two nations.
In a separate development, the Chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Lieutenant General (r) Nazeer Ahmed, suggested that Karachi could be the key to resolving the country’s financial woes, saying, “Karachi can be the lifeline of Pakistan’s economy.”
The federal government also issued an advisory on the outbreak of the Nipah virus in India, warning citizens to exercise caution. Meanwhile, a massive naval fleet is heading towards Iran, with the US President describing it as a “powerful, forceful, and clear-headed” effort.
The families of the victims of the Gul Plaza tragedy demanded the release of their loved ones’ bodies, and the Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Faisal Karim Kundi, called for a swift resolution to the crisis, stating that the issue was not a mere political slogan, but a pressing concern that needed immediate attention.
The crisis in Pakistan deepened as the Sindh government faced criticism for its handling of the situation, with the MQM leader, Hyder Abbas Rizvi, accusing it of being guilty of professional negligence. The federal government also faced questions over its response to the crisis, with the Minister for Information and Broadcasting facing criticism for his handling of the situation.
In a separate development, the Indian State of Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister, Ajit Pawar, was involved in a plane crash just before takeoff, with the pilot reportedly saying that the runway was not visible.
The federal government also issued a warning on the outbreak of the Nipah virus in India, advising citizens to exercise caution. In a separate development, the Bangladesh Cricket Board revealed that the national cricket team would travel to the World Cup at their own expense.
