MQM-P's Amin-ul-Haq claims only 36 fire tenders are operational in Karachi

MQM-Pakistan leader Amin-ul-Haq has described the incident at Gul Plaza as a deeply tragic event and raised serious questions over the response of the fire services.

He said it was alarming that a fire tender reached the scene 45 minutes after the blaze broke out, despite the fact that a fire tender was stationed barely one kilometre away. He questioned why such a delay occurred when emergency resources were so close.

Amin-ul-Haq pointed out that the DC Office was only a few steps away from Gul Plaza, the KMC office was within one kilometre, and the Chief Minister’s House was located just two kilometres from the site.

Yet, he said, people continued to burn while the fire raged throughout the night and no effective response was seen.

According to his information, only 36 fire tenders are currently operational in Karachi. He recalled that in 2020, MQM-P engaged with the federal government and ensured the provision of 52 fire tenders for the city, along with two snorkels and two water bowsers.

However, he said that despite six years passing, not a single additional fire tender has been added.

He noted that instead of 52 fire tenders, only 36 are functioning in Karachi today. He further stated that even now, 81 people remain missing and questioned who should be held responsible for this failure.

Amin-ul-Haq added that Karachi contributes 98 per cent of revenue to Sindh and 65 per cent to the federal government, yet lengthy presentations are delivered in Islamabad claiming that everything is fine. He asked bluntly: who will answer for the fire at Gul Plaza?