Murad Shah announces major relief, accountability measures after Gul Plaza tragedy

• CM rejects politicisation of tragedy,

• Unearths conspiracy against 18th Amendment

KARACHI(Jan 23): Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, while addressing the Sindh Assembly on the Gul Plaza fire tragedy, announced an extensive relief, rehabilitation, and accountability package for victims and affected traders, firmly rejecting attempts to politicise the incident and linking it to the 18th Constitutional Amendment.

Opening his address, the chief minister offered prayers for the martyrs of the tragedy, patience for bereaved families, and speedy recovery for the injured. “This is a tragedy for which words are insufficient,” he said, adding that innocent lives were lost and a pall of grief had descended over the city.

Casualties, missing persons:

Providing details to the House, Murad Ali Shah said 88 persons were initially reported missing, of whom one was mistakenly included, while five names were duplicated, leaving 82 confirmed missing individuals. So far, 61 bodies have been recovered, while 15 persons remain untraced.

Mr Shah informed lawmakers that DNA identification of 45 bodies has been completed, with 15 victims identified so far, and the remaining cases are in process.

The chief minister shared a minute-by-minute timeline of the incident, stating that the fire erupted at 10:14 pm on the ground floor on 17 January 2026 (Saturday), the first emergency call was received at 10:26 pm, and the first fire tender was dispatched at 10:27 pm. He added that a government representative - Commissioner Karachi and the police reached the site within 16 minutes of the blaze.

The chief minister also criticised unnecessary visits by certain VIPs during rescue operations, saying that despite being advised over the phone not to visit the site due to ongoing emergency work and heavy congestion, some individuals insisted on arriving merely for television coverage. He said such visits created additional difficulties for rescue teams and disrupted relief efforts.

Irregularities pre-date 18th Amendment

Rejecting claims that the tragedy resulted from the 18th Amendment, Murad Ali Shah traced the history of Gul Plaza, revealing that most irregularities were approved decades earlier. He said the original plan allowed only a basement and two floors, while additional floors were later sanctioned.

He disclosed that the plot was initially leased in 1884 for 99 years, expired in 1983, and was renewed in 1991 under the then city administration. He added that building violations were regularised in 2003, long before the 18th Amendment.

In a pointed remark, Murad Shah said it was ironic that the same individual who, as mayor in the past, had approved the renewal of the Gul Plaza lease on a backdated basis, was now tabling a resolution against it in the National Assembly. He described this contradiction as a clear example of political opportunism at a time when the focus should remain on accountability, relief, and justice for the victims.

“Raising constitutional questions over dead bodies and using this tragedy for political purposes is a crime,” he told the House, questioning who approved such irregularities before devolution.

Relief and rehabilitation package

Announcing a comprehensive relief plan, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said the Sindh government had already released compensation of Rs10 million each for the families of deceased victims, directing the commissioner to ensure swift disbursement after verification.

For affected traders, he announced Rs500,000 immediate financial assistance per shop to help them resume livelihoods. Mr Shah also revealed plans to provide alternative commercial spaces within two months, identifying two buildings with 850 shops, whose owners have agreed to waive rent for one year, with efforts underway to extend rent-free use to two years.

Additionally, the CM said each affected trader would be offered a Rs10 million interest-free loan through Sindh Enterprise Development Fund, with the Sindh government acting as guarantor and bearing the markup.

Reconstruction & accountability

CM Murad Ali Shah announced that Gul Plaza would be demolished and reconstructed as per the KBCA -approved plan, ensuring no increase in the number of shops, with reconstruction to be completed within two years.

He further announced that FIRs would be registered and all responsible individuals would be brought to justice.

Citywide safety reforms

The chief minister told the House that structural and fire safety audits of buildings across Karachi have begun, with over 300 buildings already inspected. Buildings lacking safety measures would be given a short compliance period, after which non-compliant structures would be sealed.

Murad Shah also announced plans to bring all emergency response agencies under a unified command, introduce mandatory building insurance laws, and strengthen regulatory oversight to prevent future disasters.

Warning against hidden agendas

Concluding his address, Murad Ali Shah urged critics to hold the government accountable but warned against pushing `hidden agendas’ during national tragedies. “The Pakistan Peoples Party has always stood with the people in times of fire, floods, and disasters - and it will continue to do so,” he said.

The chief minister reaffirmed that justice for the victims, relief for the affected, and reforms to ensure public safety would remain the Sindh government’s top priorities.