Sindh’s Local Councils Minister Nasir Hussain Shah announced on Tuesday that the investigation into the Gul Plaza shopping mall fire revealed the lease for the property was granted unlawfully. He noted that Farooq Sattar was serving as Karachi’s mayor at the time the lease was issued.
Addressing the media, the provincial minister dismissed Farooq Sattar’s comments on the matter, emphasizing that the inquiry uncovered significant irregularities in the lease issuance process. Shah highlighted that the lease was granted illegally during Sattar’s mayoral tenure.
He added that allegations and probes against his administration often stemmed from personal vendettas, but assured that any irregularities are met with swift action. Shah also mentioned that Bilawal Bhutto has issued firm directives to combat corruption and irregularities within the local government.
Meanwhile, MQM-Pakistan leader and former Karachi mayor Farooq Sattar has called for the judicial commission’s report on the Gul Plaza fire to be made public. He stressed the importance of transparency so the public can identify those responsible and hold accountable those guilty of criminal negligence.
The judicial commission recently submitted its findings to the government after investigating the tragic incident. The fire, which erupted on the night of January 17, engulfed the shopping mall for over 32 hours and resulted in the deaths of more than 73 people, marking it as one of the deadliest fires in the city’s history.
