Sindh Senior Minister, Sharjeel Inam Memon, has challenged the leadership of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on the issue of Karachi being handed over to the federal government. During a media briefing in Karachi, Sharjeel Memon said that if the MQM is sincere about its demand, it should have submitted a formal ultimatum to the federal government and resigned from its ministerial positions, but it will not do so.
The minister also questioned the delay of the Rescue 1122 team in reaching the scene of the fire incident at the Gul Plaza, which resulted in the loss of four lives. He alleged that the MQM has always resorted to blackmailing politics, citing the example of the increase in petrol prices during the PPP’s tenure, which led to his resignation, but no one questioned it.
Sharjeel Memon further stated that if the need arises, a judicial commission will be formed to investigate the incident, and action will be taken against those found involved in the inquiry report.
The MQM responded by saying that it will establish a high-level inquiry commission under the Commission of Inquiry Act 2017. The police have registered a case against the deceased’s father, Sajid Hussain, based on his statement.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Punjab, Maryam Nawaz, chaired a meeting to brief the participants about the incident in Lahore. The briefing stated that the construction work was underway at the site, and the mother and daughter were staying at their relatives’ house in Lahore, while the Rescue 1122 team responded promptly to the incident.
In a separate development, the Sindh government has taken a significant step to strengthen the administrative structure of government schools in the province. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also spoke with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi over the phone.
The Sindh government has decided to write to the Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court to form a judicial inquiry into the incident. The Chief Justice has been requested to establish a high-level inquiry commission to investigate the incident.
In a related development, the Awami National Party’s senior leader, Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, said that he is a spent cartridge, and has no role in the assembly or the party.
The case against the project manager, Asghar Sindhio, safety in-charge, Daniel, and site in-charge, Ahmed Nawaz, has been registered.
The chairman of the MQM and the federal minister for education, Dr. Khalid Mehmood Siddiqui, said that the MQM’s demand for handing over Karachi to the federal government is not unconstitutional, and if it is considered treason, the relevant article should be removed from the constitution.
In a separate development, a judicial magistrate heard the case of a young domestic worker, Rezwana, who was subjected to violence in Islamabad.
