KARACHI — The political fallout from the Gul Plaza inferno intensified on Saturday as the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) formally urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to bypass the Sindh government and establish a high-level federal commission. Citing “shamelessness and apathy,” MQM-P leaders have accused the provincial administration of a cover-up regarding the death toll, which officially stands at 71 but is feared to be much higher.
Sindh Home Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar said that, on the instructions of the Sindh Chief Minister, a terrorism FIR will be registered in the Gul Plaza incident, but some matters need to be clarified first.
Details: https://t.co/yfozxvLC9Q#TOKAlert #GulPlazaFire… pic.twitter.com/eGWP0v1VUB
— Times of Karachi (@TOKCityOfLights) January 24, 2026
MQM-P’s Demands to PM Shehbaz
- Primary Demand: A “High-Powered Independent Commission” under the Pakistan Commissions of Inquiry Act 2017.
- Key Figures Named: MQM-P Convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Dr. Farooq Sattar.
- The “Accused” Entities: Sindh Government, KMC, SBCA, and the Mayor of Karachi.
- Constitutional Focus: Articles 9, 14, and 24 (Right to life, dignity, and property).
- Proposed Probe Members: DGs of FIA, IB, and representatives from ISI and MI.
The Call for a Federal Takeover of the Site
In a strongly worded letter to the Prime Minister, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui demanded that the federal government immediately take custody of the Gul Plaza area. The MQM-P alleges that thousands of human remains and personal valuables are still scattered within the debris, accusing the Sindh government of failing to conduct a dignified search and rescue operation.
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Siddiqui suggested the inclusion of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and intelligence agencies (ISI/IB) in the probe to ensure that the “cancer of corruption” within the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) is fully exposed.
Farooq Sattar vs. CM Murad: The 2003 Regularization Row
The press conference saw a heated rebuttal to Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah’s earlier claims. The CM had alleged that Farooq Sattar, during his tenure as Mayor in 2003, had approved the regularization of Gul Plaza’s violations.
Gul Plaza Land Leased in 1991 for Rs 3 rupee per Square Yard Under Mayor Farooq Sattar: Sindh Govt Report#GulPlaza #Karachi #Sindh #UrbanAffairs #LeaseReport #Accountability #NewsPostPK pic.twitter.com/mzgiknErkA
— Newspost.pk (@thenewspostpk) January 24, 2026
Sattar fired back, calling the CM’s remarks a “diversion tactic.” He noted:
- Historical Accountability: Regularizations continued under subsequent administrations, including Naimatullah Khan’s.
- Delayed Response: Sattar slammed the CM for arriving at the scene 22 hours late, and Mayor Murtaza Wahab for arriving after 23 hours.
- Economic Impact: The MQM-P leader highlighted that over 12,000 families have been directly or indirectly economically ruined by the blaze.
“The Noose is Tightening”: Accountability for 71 Deaths
The MQM-P has rejected the Sindh government’s “internal” committees, calling instead for a judicial inquiry. “Incapability, mistake, apathy—these should be exposed,” Sattar demanded, warning that the “noose of accountability” is tightening around the provincial leadership.
The party also called for the establishment of a Federal Relief and Rehabilitation Fund, arguing that the provincial assistance of Rs. 500,000 per shop is insufficient for traders who have lost millions in inventory
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