Sharjeel Memon Slams Calls to Hand Karachi to Federation, Recalls Past Extortion and Arson Incidents

Karachi: Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon has strongly criticized calls to place Karachi under federal control, saying such demands are being made by those who, in the past, burned people alive for extortion money.

Addressing a press conference in Karachi, Sharjeel Memon said he recently heard a press conference calling the 18th Constitutional Amendment flawed and demanding that Karachi be handed over to the federation. He questioned whether reversing the amendment would prevent tragedies like the Gul Plaza incident, adding that such statements were coming from individuals involved in violent extortion practices.

Responding to remarks by Mustafa Kamal, the senior minister said the Baldia factory fire was caused for extortion purposes and recalled the May 12 violence in which innocent lives were lost. He said such individuals were not in a position to lecture others, referring to past incidents cited in JIT reports, including arson attacks at Bolton Market after Ashura and the seizure of businesses.

Sharjeel Memon played clips of Mustafa Kamal’s past press conferences and said Kamal’s remarks about his own party leadership and coalition leaders were on record. He also questioned Kamal’s conduct during his tenure as Karachi mayor.

The senior minister said that although he had strong responses to recent statements, the government did not want to engage in political point-scoring and stood firmly with the families of victims. He criticized Kamal, who claims to represent Karachi and currently serves as a federal health minister, for allegedly failing to visit the incident site or contact affected families.

Calling the Gul Plaza tragedy heartbreaking, Sharjeel Memon said the entire nation was mourning the loss of precious lives, stressing that no human life can be compensated. He said the government was working on a single-point agenda following the tragedy, including the recovery of bodies and their handover to families. DNA testing is ongoing to identify victims. He added that of the 86 missing persons, two were located in hospitals, while efforts to trace others continue.

He said the chief minister had met affected families and assured them that the government would not abandon them. Drawing parallels with previous incidents, including fires at markets after Ashura and the Timber Market, he said the government had supported victims in the past and would continue to do so.

Sharjeel Memon said a report prepared in January 2024 had been forwarded to the Karachi commissioner for an audit, and investigations were under way to determine whether Gul Plaza had received any safety notices. He said accountability would follow if negligence was found.

The senior minister added that meetings had been held with traders to plan future actions, including enforcement of fire safety measures in buildings. He estimated that nearly 90 percent of buildings across Pakistan lack proper fire exits and safety equipment, though compliance is being ensured in newly constructed buildings.

He also announced that the government is considering an interest-free loan scheme for affected traders and criticized what he described as politicization of the tragedy. He said attempts to create unrest or run paid campaigns over the incident were inappropriate.

Sharjeel Memon further said that efforts were also made to politicize the e-challan system in Karachi, despite clear improvements in the city’s traffic and transport management.