JI and PTI Did Not Support Protest Over Gul Plaza Tragedy: MQM Leader Ali Khurshidi

Karachi: Opposition Leader of MQM-Pakistan in the Sindh Assembly, Ali Khurshidi, has said that Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) did not support MQM’s protest over the Gul Plaza tragedy.

Speaking at a press conference in the media gallery of the Sindh Assembly, Ali Khurshidi stated that more than 80 precious lives were lost in the Gul Plaza incident, causing losses worth billions of rupees. He said Karachi is facing a severe shortage of basic facilities and a deteriorating law and order situation. “This is a city where people die after falling into open gutters or being hit by dumpers, and even basic transport facilities are unavailable,” he added.

He said that MQM has always raised its voice against poor governance. Following the Gul Plaza tragedy, the party’s first demand was an impartial inquiry, but instead, the investigation was conducted by the very people responsible for the incident. He noted that the government’s investigative committee report, which surfaced a day earlier, acknowledged the need for a judicial commission — a demand MQM had been making since day one, for which the party was accused of doing politics over the tragedy.

Ali Khurshidi said the Sindh government has now written a letter to the Sindh High Court seeking the formation of a judicial commission. “This was MQM’s stance from the very beginning,” he said.

Expressing regret, the MQM leader said it was unfortunate that JI and PTI members did not stand with MQM during the protest. He added that MQM fought the case of the people and, by the grace of God, succeeded.

Talking to the media, Ali Khurshidi further said that the silence of the federal government over the Gul Plaza tragedy was also alarming. “We tried to shake everyone into action over this incident, but sadly the city continues to be ignored at the federal level as well,” he said.

He pointed out that all fire-fighting institutions are not under the administrative control of the Mayor of Karachi and questioned why this is the case. He also said that the government’s investigative report did not name any individual responsible for the tragedy. Recalling his presence at the site, he said the fire brigade did not even have water — a fact also mentioned in the official report.

Ali Khurshidi concluded that since the investigative report has been completed and the demand for a judicial commission has been accepted, MQM will no longer stage protests in the assembly.