The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in Sindh on Thursday deferred a planned protest over the Gul Plaza tragedy, citing a desire not to impede ongoing rescue operations and to prevent the provincial government from deflecting responsibility for the incident.
PTI Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh announced that the demonstration, scheduled for Friday, was temporarily put on hold following discussions with other political parties, the business community, members of the Tehreek Tahaffuz-i-Ayeen Pakistan, and the leadership of the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA).
Sheikh clarified the party did not wish to create any obstacles for rescue teams or the removal of debris, nor did it want to provide the ‘corrupt government’ with an opportunity to shift blame for the calamity.
He confirmed that a PTI relief camp has been operational at the site since the first day of the disaster and that relief activities would persist. Sheikh, who has been personally present at the location, described the situation as ‘extremely distressing,’ noting that several bodies are still feared to be trapped under the rubble.
The PTI leader stated that bodies were recovered as recently as the previous day and the search for a number of missing individuals is continuing.
He was keen to stress that the protest has been postponed, not cancelled. Sheikh warned that if the affected traders are not fully compensated, the plaza is not rebuilt, and those responsible are not brought to justice, PTI Sindh will return to the streets alongside its political allies.
Sheikh asserted that the incident, which occurred in a central part of the city, could have seen timely and effective rescue operations, but was instead met with what he termed ‘criminal negligence.’ He alleged that Karachi has been deliberately neglected, with frequent tragedies serving as clear evidence of this failure.
He placed direct responsibility for the disaster on the Sindh government, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), the city”s mayor, and the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), criticising the “unacceptably slow” pace of rescue and debris-clearing efforts. The incident has caused the loss of precious lives and financial damages estimated in the billions of rupees.
The party has issued a set of demands, including full compensation for affected traders, the immediate reconstruction of Gul Plaza, and a payment of Rs10 million to the family of each deceased person. Sheikh also called for concrete measures to be implemented to avert similar tragedies in the future.
He remarked that leaving traders who contribute 65 per cent of the nation’s taxes helpless in their time of need reflects a ‘grave failure of the state.’
Concluding his statement, Sheikh affirmed that PTI would not abandon the victims” families or the affected business community, promising that party workers will continue to stand in solidarity with them.