Senior Sindh Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon has said that calls to hand Karachi over to the federal government are being made by the same people who, in the past, burned citizens alive for extortion and plunged the city into chaos.
Addressing a press conference in Karachi, Sharjeel Memon said he recently listened to a political leader’s briefing in which the 18th Amendment was declared flawed and Karachi was proposed to be handed over to the federation. He said such ideas had already caused immense damage to the city in the past, and these statements are coming from those whose hands are stained with the blood of innocent people over extortion.
Responding to a press conference by Mustafa Kamal, Sharjeel Memon said he would answer these allegations through facts and the speaker’s own past statements. He recalled the Baldia factory fire, the killings on May 12, and other incidents where innocent lives were lost for extortion, saying such a background makes these claims unacceptable.
He said JIT reports revealed that markets such as Bolton Market were set on fire after Ashura to seize traders’ businesses. Referring to the Gul Plaza tragedy, he said families are still searching for their loved ones while some people are busy making political statements. During the press conference, he also played clips of Mustafa Kamal’s past briefings.
Sharjeel Memon said the clips showed what Mustafa Kamal had previously said about his own party leader Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and other political figures, adding that his conduct as Karachi’s mayor is on record.
He said the government does not want to engage in political point-scoring and is instead standing with the affected families. He questioned why those claiming to represent Karachi and holding federal ministries have not even visited the site or contacted the victims.
Calling the Gul Plaza incident extremely tragic, Sharjeel Memon said precious human lives were lost and the entire nation is grieving. He said the government is working on a one-point agenda focused on relief and accountability.
He added that bodies are being recovered from the debris and handed over to families, with identification and DNA testing underway. Of the 86 initially reported missing, two were found in hospitals, while efforts to trace the remaining individuals continue.
Sharjeel Memon said the chief minister has assured the affected families that the government will not abandon them, just as it supported victims of previous market fires. He added that investigations are ongoing into fire safety audits conducted earlier, and any negligence will be met with strict action.
He also said meetings with traders have been held to plan future steps, including enforcing fire safety measures in other buildings. According to his estimate, nearly 90 percent of buildings across Pakistan lack proper fire exits and equipment, though new constructions are being required to follow SOPs.
The senior minister said the government is also considering interest-free loans for affected traders, but criticized political parties for exploiting the tragedy. He concluded by saying that despite political criticism, measures such as e-challan systems have actually improved Karachi’s transport management.
