Following the tragic Gul Plaza fire in Karachi, which has claimed 60 lives with 88 still reported missing, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) has called for the city to be declared a federal territory under Articles 148 and 149 of the Constitution. MQM-P leader and federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said Karachi cannot continue to be left under the Sindh government’s administration.
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Speaking at a press conference in Bahadurabad, Kamal criticised the provincial government for its handling of the fire and other disasters, calling the current situation “democratic terrorism in Sindh.” He highlighted the city’s poor infrastructure and frequent fires in markets and factories, noting that the scale of the Gul Plaza tragedy was unprecedented. Kamal also condemned the 18th Amendment, describing it as a “cancer for the country” and demanding its immediate abolition.
Responding to Kamal, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon accused MQM-P of politicising the tragedy, referencing past incidents such as the Baldia Factory fire and market burnings in Karachi. He stressed that opposition to the 18th Amendment should be debated in parliament rather than used as a tool for political point-scoring.
Separately, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said that the 18th Amendment was passed through consensus and could only be amended through a similar process. He emphasised the importance of empowering district governments to ensure efficient service delivery and resolve citizens’ problems.
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The Gul Plaza fire has sparked national outrage, with relatives of the missing lamenting slow rescue operations. Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the blaze, but the MQM-P’s call for federal control underscores growing frustration over Karachi’s governance and public safety.