Karachi: Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi Monem Zafar Khan participated in the funeral prayers of four out of six members of the same family who fell prey to the Gul Plaza inferno tragedy, following their identification.
The funeral prayers were offered at the Eidgah Ground in Delhi Colony, on Sunday. On this occasion, Ameer District South Sufyan Dilawar, JI Karachi Secretary Information Zahid Askari, Secretary Public Aid Committee Najeeb Ayoobi, and others also participated in the prayers.
Speaking to the media afterward, Monem Zafar Khan said that the Pakistan Peoples Party's provincial government has been in power for the past 18 years, and the Building Control Authority along with all relevant institutions function under its authority.
He said there is no shortage of resources; the real issues are incompetence, poor governance, and corruption that birth tragedies in Karachi. If the rulers lack the will and intention to protect the public, such tragedies will continue to occur repeatedly. He announced that the JI will hold a grand 'Let Karachi Live' march on Shahrah-e-Faisal on February 1 to secure the right to live for the citizens of Karachi. He said the people of Karachi will come out in large numbers and demand their basic rights from oppressive rulers. He added that Jamaat-e-Islami will not abandon the people of Karachi and stands shoulder to shoulder with them in their grief. The party is providing relief to the affected families and will raise its voice for their rights at every level.
Monem Zafar said that today they are carrying the coffins of four martyrs, but even after nine days, several families are still waiting for the bodies or remains of their loved ones. He termed this situation a grave injustice to Karachi, stating that neither people's lives nor their property are safe.
He said the Gul Plaza tragedy has exposed the performance of the Sindh government and the concerned institutions. The question today is where the Building Control Authority was, why the fire alarm system failed, and why safety SOPs were not enforced.
He further stated that over the past 16 years, more than 2,000 fire incidents have occurred in Karachi, yet the rulers have taken no serious measures. Neither were building laws enforced nor were emergency exit routes ensured in commercial centers, resulting in the frequent loss of precious human lives.
He added that even today, the affected families are being forced to make rounds of the Edhi Center and various government offices. Some are being asked to bring certificates, others to provide additional documents, which is unbearable for families already engulfed in grief.
He concluded by praying that Allah Almighty grants forgiveness to the martyrs, elevates their ranks, protects the city of Karachi from such tragic incidents in the future, and safeguards the lives and property of its residents.