Pakistan lawmaker warns against ‘ethnic politics’ after Gul Plaza fire

Senator Sherry Rehman has said that the Pakistan Peoples Party took full responsibility for Karachi and its citizens, urging lawmakers not to politicize or ethnicize the Gul Plaza tragedy as parliament unanimously adopted a resolution on the deadly fire.

The Gul Plaza incident refers to a major fire at a commercial building in Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city, which resulted in multiple deaths and injuries. The tragedy has sparked debate over fire safety, governance, and responsibility in the densely populated metropolis.

The joint resolution on the Gul Plaza tragedy was presented during a joint sitting of parliament by Muttahida Qaumi Movement–Pakistan parliamentary leader Dr Farooq Sattar. It was signed by both government and opposition members.

Rehman said her party had no objection to the resolution and had signed it. She termed the incident a serious tragedy and said it was not an issue of a single city but of the entire country.

She said people from all over Pakistan live in Karachi and that the federal government should also provide assistance.

The joint sitting unanimously adopted the resolution, offering prayers for the deceased, expressing solidarity with the victims of the fire, and calling on the government to ensure fire safety measures and provide compensation to those affected.

‘Politics should not be done over dead bodies’

During the debate, Rehman said details of the Gul Plaza incident were still emerging.

When Iqbal Afridi attempted to interrupt her speech, the speaker warned that the session would be adjourned if interruptions continued.

Continuing her address, Rehman said the Pakistan Peoples Party took full responsibility for Karachi and its citizens.

She urged that the issue should not be turned into a political or ethnic matter, criticizing repeated references to the 18th Amendment and remarks by some ministers about separating Karachi.

“We have made sacrifices for this country—where were you at that time?” she said, adding that politics should not be done over dead bodies.

Gaza Peace Board opposition raised

Addressing the joint sitting, Senator Allama Raja Nasir Abbas said the world was passing through a sensitive phase and that the people of Gaza were fighting a war for their freedom.

He claimed the International Court of Justice had declared Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a terrorist and said what could not be achieved through force was now being pursued under the guise of a “peace board.”

He said Pakistan had joined the Gaza Peace Board without national consensus and that there was no Palestinian representation in it. “We do not even know the points of this peace board,” he said, terming it an “occupation board.”

He called for a resolution against the board, calling it a matter of Pakistan’s honor, dignity, and national conscience.

Bills passed amid protests

The joint sitting, presided over by Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, took up several legislative matters as opposition parties staged protests inside the house.

Despite strong protests by the opposition and objections raised by the president, Parliament passed important bills related to human rights protection and domestic violence.

The president’s objections to the Danish Schools Authority Bill and the Domestic Violence Prevention and Protection Bill were presented during the session.

On the Danish Schools Authority Bill, the president had advised that the federal government consult the provinces before establishing the authority. JUI-F Senator Kamran Murtaza read out the advice, saying the federation was encroaching upon provincial jurisdiction.

The speaker proceeded with voting despite opposition objections, triggering sloganeering. Opposition leaders from both houses stood at their seats, while PTI members protested in front of the speaker’s chair.

Opposition Leader in the Senate Allama Raja Nasir Abbas and Barrister Gohar raised slogans, with Barrister Gohar chanting “terrorist, terrorist—unacceptable.”

Despite the protest and uproar, the Danish Schools Authority Bill, 2025 was approved.

Human rights, domestic violence bills cleared

The National Commission for Human Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2025 was presented by Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry.

PPP MNA Shazia Marri moved an amendment to the bill, which was supported by the government. Amendments proposed by JUI-F lawmakers were rejected.

The Domestic Violence Prevention and Protection Bill, 2025 was later taken up. Amendments proposed by JUI-F lawmakers were also rejected.

Minister of State Talal Chaudhry said men had been included in the domestic violence bill for the first time, calling it a positive step that would also extend protection to men under the law.