Farooq Sattar Demands Resignations of Sindh CM, Information Minister and Karachi Mayor Over Gul Plaza Tragedy

Karachi: Senior leader of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Pakistan, Dr Farooq Sattar, has demanded the immediate resignation of the Sindh Chief Minister, Sindh Information Minister, and the Mayor of Karachi, calling for the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the Gul Plaza tragedy.

Addressing a press conference at Bahadurabad, Farooq Sattar said the Sindh government was showing irritation when questioned about the incident, accusing the provincial leadership of arrogance after remaining in power for 18 years. He said the MQM would not allow attention to be diverted from the Gul Plaza incident and would continue pressing for accountability.

“Our demand is clear — a judicial commission must be formed, and we will not back down from this demand,” he said, adding that even if security was withdrawn or cases were registered against MQM leaders, they would continue their struggle for justice.

The MQM leader alleged that Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon had stated that a judicial commission would not be formed on anyone’s demand. “If that is the case, then form it yourselves. You have had control over all institutions for the last 18 years,” he remarked.

Farooq Sattar rejected the idea of an inquiry conducted by the Karachi Commissioner, questioning its credibility. He also criticized the withdrawal of security from MQM leaders, including Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, despite security agencies warning of threats to their lives. “If the Sindh government cannot ensure our safety, will Islamabad police provide us security?” he questioned.

Highlighting Karachi’s deteriorating law and order situation, he said citizens were dying due to dumpers, trailers, street crimes, and children falling into open gutters. He argued that if the Sindh government was unable to protect Karachi’s residents, the city should be placed under federal control under Article 141.

Referring to President Asif Ali Zardari’s statement about Karachi being a city of 40 million people, Farooq Sattar said if the provincial government believed it was fulfilling its responsibilities, then it should formally hand over Karachi to the federation.

He clarified that MQM was not demanding governor’s rule in Sindh but urged decisive action regarding Karachi. He also said he had been seeking a meeting with PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for the past one and a half years but had not been given time.

Farooq Sattar reiterated his demand that the Sindh Chief Minister, Information Minister, and Karachi Mayor resign, stating that the provincial government appeared to have “disowned Karachi” through its actions. “The mandate of Karachi is with us, and Gul Plaza will continue to haunt you,” he said.

He added that MQM was asking Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to obtain resignations from the concerned officials, stressing that security should be restored to all MQM leaders without discrimination.

Criticizing the lack of forensic facilities, he said the Karachi Forensic Lab existed only as a building despite billions of rupees being spent on it. “Universities like Karachi University have established small labs on their own — the government should learn from them,” he remarked.

Farooq Sattar concluded by predicting that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) would be defeated in the 2029 general elections.