Karachi, Pakistan – A devastating fire at Gul Plaza in Karachi has left many questions unanswered regarding the rescue efforts by the Rescue 1122 team. The team took approximately 40 minutes to reach the scene, sparking concerns about the adequacy of the response to a tragedy that resulted in loss of life.
Eyewitnesses reported that people outside the building informed the authorities about their loved ones trapped inside, yet the rescue team failed to break down the internal doors to access the affected areas. The Commissioner of Karachi has been tasked with submitting a report to the Chief Minister of Sindh on the incident.
The initial investigation report into the tragedy has raised more questions than answers. The report failed to identify those responsible for downgrading the incident from a disaster to a mere mishap, as well as the shortcomings and lapses that could have been addressed to prevent such tragedies in the future.
A top MQM official has called for the establishment of an independent inquiry commission under the Commission of Inquiry Act 2017. The police have registered a case against Sajid Hussain, the father of the deceased, under Section 322 of the Pakistan Penal Code.
In a separate development, Sindh’s senior minister has announced plans to strengthen the administrative framework of government schools in the province. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has spoken with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi over the phone, while Senior Minister Raja Ashfaq Sarjulal has decided to write to the Chief Justice of Sindh High Court to request a judicial inquiry into the incident.
Addressing a gathering, the Prime Minister expressed his commitment to strengthening ties with the European Union. The EU Ambassador to Pakistan, Raimundas Karoblis, met with the Prime Minister on Thursday to discuss ways to enhance cooperation between the two countries.
A case has been registered against the project manager, safety officer, and site manager of the Gul Plaza project. Chairman MQM Pakistan and Federal Minister for Education, Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, has denied allegations that the MQM is demanding the transfer of Karachi to the federal government, terming it “unconstitutional.”
In a related development, a judicial magistrate has heard a case of domestic abuse against a minor domestic worker in Islamabad. The case was brought to the court by the victim’s father.
In another development, the Sindh government has decided to strengthen its administrative framework for government schools in the province.
