MQM-P Demands Federal Takeover of Karachi Post-Gul Plaza Tragedy

KARACHI — The political landscape in Sindh has reached a boiling point as the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, formally requested the federal government to intervene in Sindh’s governance. The demand follows the catastrophic Gul Plaza fire, which has now been confirmed as one of the city’s deadliest commercial disasters in a decade.

The Gul Plaza Tragedy 

The recent blaze at the iconic Gul Plaza has transformed from a rescue operation into a fierce political battleground.

• The Death Toll: As of January 27, the death toll has reached 73, with 49 people still reported missing.
• The Cause: Initial investigations suggest the fire began in a shop selling artificial flowers and was exacerbated by a lack of emergency exits and fire safety equipment.
• The Compensation: The Sindh government has announced Rs 10 million for the families of the deceased, but MQM-P has rejected the provincial inquiry, calling it a “cover-up.”

MQM-P’s Demands for Article 148 and Federal Control

Addressing a press conference at the Bahadurabad headquarters, Dr. Farooq Sattar and Haider Abbas Rizvi leveled scathing allegations against the PPP-led provincial government.

1. Direct Federal Control: Invoking Article 148 of the Constitution, MQM-P urged the federal government to act as an “arbitrator” and take direct administrative control of Karachi to end “feudal oppression.”
2. Judicial Commission: The party demanded a high-level judicial commission—including members from the FIA, ISI, and MI—to investigate “criminal professional negligence” in the Gul Plaza incident.
3. Security Standoff: Dr. Sattar claimed that the Sindh government withdrew security from MQM-P leaders (including Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Mustafa Kamal) overnight as “punishment” for their criticism.

“If the Sindh government fails to provide security, we will demand protection from the Islamabad police and eventually ask that Karachi be declared a federal territory.” — Dr. Farooq Sattar

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The Sindh Government’s Rebuttal

The Sindh government has dismissed MQM-P’s narrative as “false propaganda” aimed at sabotaging the 18th Amendment.

• Security Denial: Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar termed the claims of security withdrawal “baseless,” stating that no such directives were issued.
• Counter-Charge: Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon accused MQM-P of “politicizing bodies” and using the tragedy to avoid upcoming local government elections. He noted that Mustafa Kamal and Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui already have ten police personnel each assigned to them.

Key Tensions & Next Steps

• The Sunday Protest: Tensions are expected to rise as MQM-P prepares for further demonstrations if their demand for a federal judicial commission is not met.
• Structure Demolition: Following the conclusion of the search operation on Monday, Gul Plaza has been sealed and is slated for partial demolition due to structural instability.
• Federal Response: All eyes are now on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who is currently on an official trip to the UAE, to see if the Center will weigh in on the provincial-federal jurisdiction debate.

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