Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has rejected demands to place Karachi under federal control following the deadly Gul Plaza fire incident, saying such a move would require a constitutional amendment.
Speaking to the media in Sanghar, the chief minister said the Sindh government is taking responsibility for the tragedy and will not abandon the affected families or traders.
He confirmed that he has formally written to the Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court, requesting a judicial inquiry into the Gul Plaza incident.
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Murad Ali Shah said the Sindh High Court has asked the provincial government to submit the terms of reference (ToRs) for the inquiry. He assured that the investigation would be transparent and aimed at fixing responsibility.
Addressing relief measures, the chief minister announced that the families of those who lost their lives in the Gul Plaza fire would be given Rs10 million each as compensation.
He also said immediate financial assistance of Rs500,000 is being provided to affected traders to help them resume their businesses.
The chief minister further stated that the provincial government plans to reconstruct Gul Plaza and provide newly built shops to all affected shopkeepers within the next two years. He said this step is meant to restore livelihoods and rebuild trust.
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Responding to political calls for handing over Karachi to the federal government, Murad Ali Shah said such demands are unrealistic without amending the constitution. He stressed that Karachi is part of Sindh and administrative changes cannot be made through political pressure alone.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister’s Coordinator for Information on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Affairs, Ikhtiar Wali Khan, also dismissed the idea of a federal takeover of Karachi, calling it “not practically possible.”
Speaking to local media, Wali Khan said that when law and order conditions deteriorate severely in a province, Governor’s Rule may be imposed. However, he added that the current situation in Karachi does not justify such an extreme step.
Commenting on the federal government’s response, Wali Khan said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is known for swift action, and it will become clear whether he visits Karachi himself or assigns representatives.
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Referring to recent fire incidents, he noted that such accidents occur around the world, but the real test lies in how governments respond, take responsibility, and support victims afterward.
The statements come amid growing political debate over governance failures, public safety, and accountability in Karachi following the Gul Plaza tragedy.
