Sindh Senior Minister for Information, Transport and Mass Transit Sharjeel Inam Memon said on Tuesday that an important meeting of the Sindh cabinet was held, which was the first meeting after the Gul Plaza incident.
At the start of the meeting, Fateha was offered for the martyrs, and prayers were offered for the elevation of their ranks and for patience for the bereaved families. He said the cabinet approved the steps taken by the Sindh government after the incident, including decisions related to compensation for losses.
Speaking to media persons at the Sindh Assembly Media Corner on Tuesday, Memon said no life has a price and no compensation can bring back a life. However, the Sindh government has announced assistance of Rs10 million for the family of each deceased. He said approval has also been given to provide Rs500,000 and an alternative place to affected shopkeepers so they can immediately restart their businesses. The estimated financial losses were also discussed.
He said the cabinet has formed a five-member committee under the chairmanship of the chief minister. The committee includes the senior minister, the minister for law, the minister for local government, and the minister for labour and manpower. It will take decisions and actions in light of the investigation report. He said this was a huge incident, and the martyrs will always be remembered. The chief minister is holding continuous meetings following the incident, and steps are being taken on a daily basis.
Memon said that, along with fire audits, an effective mechanism is being developed to review fire prevention measures in buildings. Committees comprising officials from the Building Control Authority, fire auditors, and assistant commissioners will inspect buildings across the province. He clarified that the government is not harming anyone but is working to protect the lives and property of traders.
He said the incident serves as a warning not only for Karachi or Sindh but for the entire country, especially old cities where such safety systems are lacking. Rejecting reports circulating about the MQM, he said it was merely a rumour that the police security of MQM leaders had been withdrawn. He said the home minister has clearly stated that no one’s security had been withdrawn. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Mustafa Kamal are currently in Islamabad and have been provided full security. He added that those who are entitled are being provided security, and if anyone requires additional security, they may apply to the government, which is ready to provide it.
He said negative politics began immediately after the Gul Plaza incident, even when people were still waiting for the bodies of their loved ones. Some elements, he said, want to exploit the incident for political gains. He added that these are the same people who ran away from the local body elections because they were aware of their fate.
The senior minister said cheques are being delivered to the homes of the martyrs of the Gul Plaza incident, and provincial ministers themselves will quietly visit the families to assist. In response to a question, he said the Sindh government is conducting a thorough investigation into the Gul Plaza incident at the highest level, and if further investigation is required, the formation of a judicial commission will not be avoided.
Responding to a question about a controversial statement made by a TV anchor regarding Karachi, he said he would appeal to the management of the relevant TV channel to conduct an official inquiry against the anchor. He said Sindh is the province that created Pakistan, and the assembly where they were speaking was the same legislature that passed the resolution for the creation of Pakistan.
In response to another question, Memon said Hafiz Naeem and his party have always engaged in negative politics, and their statements should be ignored. Answering another question, he said protest is everyone’s democratic right, but if undemocratic methods are adopted, strikes are enforced, or attempts are made to burn shops, the government will take strict action to protect citizens.
In response to another question, he said that after the Gul Plaza incident, the government has called a forensic team from Lahore, which clearly reflects its intentions. If necessary, experts will also be called from abroad. He added that no government official has declared himself innocent.
In response to a question regarding the governor of Sindh, he said that the governor is a respectable individual and everyone has the right to express their opinion. Responding to another question, he said transfers are a normal process, and if a department carries them out at its discretion, it is within its authority.
