KARACHI: Central Chief of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Monday said the Gul Plaza tragedy had fully exposed the failures of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), announcing a citywide protest movement and demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah over the incident. Addressing a press conference at Idara Noor-e-Haq, the JI Karachi headquarters, Naeemur Rehman said a few million rupees could never be a substitute for human lives. He strongly criticized what he termed a corrupt and dysfunctional system, raising serious questions about the performance of the Fire Brigade, the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), and other relevant institutions. He said international standards required one fire station for every 100,000 people, yet a metropolitan city like Karachi had only 28 fire stations. He questioned why fire brigade vehicles failed to reach the site on time, why snorkels malfunctioned, why water was unavailable, and why fire fighters lacked personal protective equipment (PPE). He also asked why vehicles did not have diesel and why essential chemicals were unavailable during the emergency. The JI Chief directed the party’s Karachi leadership to mobilize the public for a massive “Let Karachi Live March” within the next 15 days. “I will personally go street by street and neighbourhood by neighbourhood to prepare for it,” he said. Providing further details, Naeemur Rehman said the fire department had 1,600 sanctioned posts, of which around 400 employees had already retired. He added that the last proper training for fire fighters had taken place 11 years ago. “Fire fighters do not have complete gears. They do not even have masks. In such circumstances, how can they enter burning buildings and rescue people?” he asked. He said the Fire Brigade operated directly under the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), which raised serious questions for what he termed the “imposed mayor”. Referring to taxes collected under the Municipal Utility Charges and Taxes (MUCT), including fire tax, he asked where the money was being spent and why staff were deprived of uniforms, kits, and essential equipment. Criticizing the SBCA, he said if building owners failed to keep emergency exits clear, on what basis were such structures approved. He alleged approvals were granted in exchange for extortion, claiming this system ran through every department “all the way to Zardari House”, describing it as a complete mafia operating in the city. Naeemur Rehman said those who had imposed the PPP and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Karachi were equally responsible for the city’s deteriorating conditions. Addressing the establishment, he said those responsible for placing “feudal lords and landlords” over Karachi must answer to the people. Highlighting the daily hardships faced by residents, he said children fell into open sewers, people were crushed under heavy traffic, swept away by rainwater, and left helpless when fires broke out with no timely rescue. He reiterated that the people of Karachi had wanted a Jamaat-e-Islami mayor, but their mandate was taken away and a PPP mayor imposed. He claimed the MQM had failed to win even a single polling station in the city, yet secured dozens of National Assembly and Provincial Assembly seats. He also questioned the absence of disaster management authorities during the tragedy. “Where were the PDMA and NDMA?” he asked, adding that relief efforts were instead carried out by organizations such as Saylani, Chhipa, Alkhidmat and Edhi, along with ordinary citizens. “Some provided water, some arranged lighting, some rescued people. The public performed the duties of the state,” he said. The JI Chief noted that Pakistan manufactured fire fighting equipment used worldwide, yet the country’s own fire brigade lacked basic gear. He termed the situation deeply tragic, criticising PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for what he called political “theatrics” in Islamabad while Karachi remained in ruins. Later, Naeemur Rehman, accompanied by JI Karachi Chief, Monem Zafar and other leaders visited the families of a fire fighter and another victim who lost their lives while battling the blaze. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026