Municipal Commissioner Afzal Zaidi has been removed from his post in the wake of the Gul Plaza tragedy, officials confirmed on Thursday.
Chief Secretary Sindh Asif Haider Shah issued an official notification directing Afzal Zaidi to report to the Services, General Administration and Coordination Department, effectively relieving him of his duties as municipal commissioner.
According to the notification, a Grade-19 XPCS officer, Samira Hussain, has been assigned additional charge of the Municipal Commissioner’s office with immediate effect. The move comes amid growing criticism of Zaidi’s performance in recent months.
Zaidi had come under intense public and political scrutiny following a tragic incident on November 30, when a three-year-old child, Ibrahim, fell into an open sewer near Gul Plaza and lost his life. The incident sparked widespread outrage and raised serious questions about municipal oversight, infrastructure maintenance and public safety in the area.
Sources within the Sindh government said that Zaidi’s handling of the aftermath of the Gul Plaza fire was also considered unsatisfactory, further undermining confidence in his leadership. Officials indicated that these cumulative concerns played a role in the decision to remove him from the post.
Last month, Afzal Zaidi was also prevented from travelling abroad. Immigration sources said he was offloaded at Karachi Airport when he attempted to fly to Turkey after his name appeared on the stop list, a development that added to speculation about ongoing administrative and legal scrutiny.
The Gul Plaza tragedy had prompted calls from civil society groups and local residents for accountability and reforms within municipal authorities to prevent similar incidents in the future. Critics have argued that poor maintenance of sewerage systems and delayed response by civic bodies have repeatedly endangered lives in Karachi.
With Samira Hussain assuming additional charge, officials say the provincial government expects a renewed focus on improving municipal governance, enforcing safety standards and restoring public trust in the city’s administrative machinery.
Authorities have not yet clarified whether further disciplinary action or inquiries will follow against Afzal Zaidi, but sources suggest that reviews of municipal performance and safety protocols are ongoing.
