Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) senior leader Dr Farooq Sattar on Tuesday demanded that the Gul Plaza fire inquiry report be made public immediately, saying that “a deliberate attempt has been made to suppress the facts surrounding the incident that claimed more than 100 lives”.
Speaking at a press conference at the party’s temporary headquarters in Bahadurabad, Dr Sattar accused the Sindh government and the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) of withholding the inquiry findings to protect those responsible.
He claimed that the authorities have fabricated the disappearance of official records to conceal corruption, asserting that all the relevant files and evidence are securely held by the MQM-P. He challenged the inquiry commission to summon his party to present the relevant material before it.
He criticised former SBCA director general Manzoor Kaka and other officials being discharged from related cases, terming it a “gross miscarriage of justice”. He argued that “discharging them does not amount to their acquittal but reflects mala fide intent and systemic failure”.
He also called upon the Sindh High Court chief justice to order the immediate publication of the inquiry report, describing it as a “matter of urgent public importance”. Advocate Tariq Mansoor said on the occasion that the government’s failure to release the inquiry report even after eight days amounts to “shielding the real culprits”.
He termed the delay a violation of the Sindh Human Rights Policy 2023-2027, the Sindh Transparency & Right to Information Act, 2016, international human rights commitments and the Constitution’s Article 19-A.
He claimed that the incident is being covered up through a coordinated effort to hide criminal negligence, mismanagement and corruption, and accused the authorities of presenting distorted facts in courts. He also alleged collusion between the provincial government and the Anti-Corruption Department to provide legal protection to those involved.
He said that all documentary evidence would be presented in the high court to establish how public resources were misused and residents’ lives were endangered. Reaffirming their stance, MQM-P leader said they would pursue justice for the victims through all available legal and political avenues, and ensure accountability of those responsible.
