The Sindh Police have removed Pir Muhammad Shah from his position as Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Traffic, Karachi, following serious lapses in traffic management during the tragic Gul Plaza fire incident.
The decision was confirmed through an official notification issued on Friday, appointing Mazhar Nawaz Shaikh as the new DIG Traffic Karachi. He has assumed charge with immediate effect.
The move comes in the aftermath of the devastating fire at Gul Plaza, which claimed the lives of at least 79 people and raised serious concerns about emergency preparedness and coordination in the city. According to reports, severe traffic congestion around the affected area significantly delayed the arrival and movement of emergency services, including fire brigade vehicles and rescue teams.
Authorities cited Pir Muhammad Shah’s failure to ensure effective traffic control and clearance of key access routes as the primary reason for his removal. The lack of timely traffic management reportedly obstructed rescue operations during the critical initial hours of the incident, prompting strong criticism from both officials and the public.
Senior police officials emphasized that accountability was necessary in light of the scale of the tragedy and the operational shortcomings observed during the emergency response. The Sindh Police reiterated their commitment to improving coordination between traffic police, rescue services, and district administration during emergencies.
Mazhar Nawaz Shaikh, who has now been appointed to lead the city’s traffic police, is expected to focus on strengthening emergency traffic response protocols, improving inter-agency coordination, and ensuring rapid clearance of routes during disasters. Officials expressed confidence that his experience would help address systemic weaknesses exposed by the incident.
The Gul Plaza fire has triggered broader discussions on urban safety, disaster response, and infrastructure management in Karachi. Government authorities have indicated that further inquiries into the incident are ongoing and that additional administrative action may follow based on the findings.
The Sindh Police stated that ensuring public safety and enabling swift emergency response remain top priorities, and that performance failures, particularly during life-threatening situations, will not be overlooked.
