Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has rejected claims linking the Gul Plaza fire to the 18th Amendment. He said the provincial government is still correcting irregularities that existed long before the amendment. Speaking in the Sindh Assembly, he criticised attempts to politicise the tragedy. He also dismissed calls to declare Karachi a federal territory after the incident.
The chief minister described the Gul Plaza fire as a national tragedy. However, he said political narratives had overshadowed facts. He stressed that he was not questioning anyone’s intentions. Nevertheless, he warned against dragging constitutional amendments into the debate. He added that blaming the 18th Amendment amounted to serious misinformation.
Meanwhile, the death toll from the Gul Plaza blaze has risen to 71. Police Surgeon Dr Samia Syed confirmed the figure as rescue operations continued. The fire broke out on January 17 at the multi-storey commercial building. Several people remained missing for days due to the scale of destruction. Emergency teams have continued debris removal operations.
Addressing the Assembly, CM Murad explained the building’s approval history. He said an application to construct Gul Plaza was submitted in 1979. The sale deed was approved in 1983. He added that construction permission was granted during the 1980s. The plot lease was also completed in 1983.
The chief minister further stated that the lease was renewed in 1991 by the mayor at that time. He emphasised that this decision came before the 18th Amendment. Later, a fresh request was submitted in 1998 to add a third floor. Additional shops were regularised in 2003. According to him, all approvals occurred before the amendment came into force.
CM Murad strongly rejected claims blaming the amendment for the fire. He questioned why the tragedy was being linked to constitutional changes. He said such arguments distorted the real issues of safety and enforcement. He added that the government was addressing long-standing governance failures.
Reconstruction and Compensation Plan
The Sindh chief minister announced that Gul Plaza would be rebuilt within two years. He said the remaining structure would be demolished for safety reasons. He assured shop owners that they would receive the same number of shops after reconstruction. He described the loss of lives as irreplaceable.
He announced financial compensation for victims’ families. Each family will receive Rs10 million. Additionally, the Sindh government will assess commercial losses. Immediate relief of Rs500,000 will be provided to every affected shopkeeper. Authorities have been directed to compile verified lists by Monday.
To support traders, temporary business arrangements have been made. Five hundred shops have been arranged in one building. Another 350 shops have been provided elsewhere. Owners have agreed to waive rent for one year. Moreover, the government will act as collateral for loans up to Rs10 million. The provincial government will bear the interest cost.
