Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori has strongly criticized the government over the Gul Plaza tragedy and demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident.
According to reports, the death toll from the fire at Gul Plaza has risen to 60, while dozens of people are still missing. Families of the missing have sharply criticized the slow pace of the operation at the three storey building, where rescue workers continue to search through debris for human remains.
Speaking at a press conference on the Gul Plaza tragedy, the Sindh Governor said he would write letters to the Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, seeking a judicial investigation into the incident. He also expressed regret that several children had already lost their lives due to falling into open manholes.
Although a government committee has started an investigation, the cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
Kamran Tessori said that even a week after the tragic incident, political point scoring was still taking place. He stressed that no attempt to shift blame would be allowed to succeed and that those responsible must be identified and given strict punishment.
He further said that Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah should personally investigate why the machinery was not functioning properly. He questioned why the son of a victim was baton charged, while mothers were being forced to beg for justice.
The governor stated that the public cannot be expected to pay taxes and also sacrifice their lives. He warned that if anyone tried to politicize the tragedy, he would expose all facts. He added that the administration had shown criminal negligence and that he would not allow it to be covered up.
Kamran Tessori also said he would ask Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir to visit Karachi and see for himself who was responsible for the injustice.
