The Sindh government has decided to remove several key officials from their positions in the wake of the Gul Plaza tragedy.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah.

The six-hour meeting was also attended by senior ministers and high-ranking officers.

The meeting rejected an inquiry report into the deadly blaze submitted by the Karachi commissioner.

The report on the incident has also been sent to President Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

During the meeting, the chief minister expressed serious reservations over the inquiry report, saying that necessary changes would have to be made to avoid such incidents in the future.

Murad Ali Shah said the fire incident was not treated with the seriousness it deserved and that the administrative response was extremely slow.

He said various officials continued to shift responsibility onto one another, resulting in delays in rescue and relief operations.

The chief minister stated that the response of all relevant departments — including the commissioner, deputy commissioner, fire brigade and emergency service 1122 — was unsatisfactory and sluggish.

He added that it appeared the inquiry report attempted to deflect responsibility rather than clearly identify those at fault.

Other participants of the meeting also did not find the inquiry report satisfactory, Shah added.

Murad Ali Shah said no negligence in protecting the lives and property of the public would be tolerated, and strict action would be taken against those responsible.

He directed that the causes of the tragedy, administrative failures and assignment of responsibility be reviewed afresh in an impartial manner to help prevent similar incidents in the future.

The meeting was attended by provincial ministers Sharjeel Inam Memon, Zia Lanjar, Nasir Hussain Shah and Murtaza Wahab, along with the inspector general of police and the additional inspector general.

Participants were briefed on various aspects of the Gul Plaza incident and discussed effective preventive measures going forward.

Governor demands judicial inquiry

Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori has demanded the formation of a judicial inquiry commission to investigate the devastating Gul Plaza fire.

In a letter to the Sindh High Court chief justice, the governor called for a transparent and judicial investigation into the incident.

He called for identifying those responsible for negligence and lapses and requested that the probe be conducted under the supervision of the Sindh High Court.

The governor emphasised that such oversight would ensure the facts are brought to light and justice is delivered to the affected families.