By our correspondent
KARACHI: Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi, Monem Zafar Khan, took part in the funeral prayers of four of the six members of a family who died in the Gul Plaza fire tragedy, following the identification of their bodies.
The prayers were held at the Eidgah Ground in Delhi Colony on Sunday. Ameer District South Sufyan Dilawar, JI Karachi Secretary Information Zahid Askari, Secretary of the Public Aid Committee Najeeb Ayoobi, and other party members also attended.
Speaking to the media, Monem Zafar Khan criticised the Pakistan Peoples Party’s provincial government, which has been in power for 18 years, saying that the Building Control Authority and other relevant institutions operate under its authority. He said the city’s problems stem not from a lack of resources but from incompetence, poor governance and corruption, which continue to fuel tragedies in Karachi.
He warned that without the rulers’ will to protect citizens, such incidents will keep recurring. He announced that Jamaat-e-Islami would hold a “Let Karachi Live” march on Shahrah-e-Faisal on February 1 to demand the basic right to safety for the city’s residents. Khan said the people of Karachi would join in large numbers, and the party would continue to support affected families while raising their concerns at every level.
Monem Zafar Khan noted that while coffins of four victims were being carried today, many families are still waiting for the bodies or remains of their loved ones nine days after the tragedy. He described the situation as a grave injustice, saying that neither lives nor property in Karachi are safe.
He criticized the performance of the Sindh government and related authorities, questioning the absence of the Building Control Authority, the failure of the fire alarm system, and the lack of enforcement of safety SOPs. He added that over the past 16 years, more than 2,000 fire incidents have occurred in Karachi, yet authorities have taken no serious measures, leaving emergency exits unmonitored and building laws unenforced, resulting in repeated loss of life.
Khan also condemned the bureaucratic hurdles faced by affected families, who are forced to approach the Edhi Center and various government offices repeatedly, often being asked for certificates or additional documents while still grieving. He concluded by praying that Allah grants forgiveness to the martyrs, elevates their ranks, protects Karachi from future tragedies, and safeguards the lives and property of its residents.
