Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Dr Farooq Sattar on Tuesday said there was no need to impose governor’s rule across Sindh under Article 145, urging the federal government instead to take direct control of Karachi under Article 148 of the Constitution.

Addressing the media over the Gul Plaza tragedy, Sattar said the party had given the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) two years to act but saw no meaningful response.

He demanded the resignation of the Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, the Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab and Senior Minister Sharjeel Memon, saying the provincial leadership was evading accountability.

Sattar said questions raised over the tragedy had put the chief minister, senior ministers and the mayor under pressure from the public. He accused the Sindh government of refusing to adopt a democratic and political approach, alleging arrogance driven by power and money.

He reiterated MQM-P’s demand for a judicial commission, rejecting any inquiry conducted by the Karachi commissioner.

“How can an inquiry by the commissioner be acceptable?” he asked, adding that attempts to mislead Gul Plaza victims through “manufactured narratives” would not succeed.

The MQM-P leader said his party would not withdraw its demand for a judicial inquiry, even if its security was withdrawn or false cases were registered against its leaders. He claimed MQM-P leaders’ security had already been taken back overnight.

Sattar said the Sindh government controlled all of Karachi’s resources and questioned why it was “afraid” of forming a judicial commission.

He said ministers had publicly stated they would not constitute a judicial commission “at anyone’s behest,” which, he added, raised serious concerns.

He urged Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to recognise public anger in Sindh, saying “people’s hearts are on fire.”

Using strong language, Sattar warned that the Gul Plaza incident would continue to haunt the ruling party and that alleged injustices would eventually collapse.

Sattar maintained that MQM-P had faced similar pressure in the past but would continue its struggle to secure justice for the victims of the Gul Plaza tragedy.

Sharjeel Memon rejects MQM-P ‘dictation’

Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Memon said he had already stated — before Dr Sattar’s press conference — that a judicial commission would be formed if required.

He said the Sindh government would not operate on MQM-P’s “timetable” or under any dictation.

 “We conduct our politics on our own terms, not on Farooq Sattar’s instructions,” he said.

He said the PPP had come to power with a “genuine mandate,” unlike what he described as MQM-P’s “charity-based, fake mandate.”

He said the term “stamp mafia” had previously been associated with MQM-P and accused Sattar of seeking confrontation.

Memon challenged Sattar to resign alongside him and contest elections, saying it would then be clear who enjoyed public support.

He dismissed Sattar’s remarks as “foolish,” adding that if MQM-P leaders wanted police protection from Islamabad, they were free to seek it.

“No one is stopping them,” he said, but added that security would not be provided to every MQM-P worker on Sattar’s demand.

Memon said Sattar was making contradictory statements and should not be taken seriously, alleging MQM-P changed its position frequently.

He said forensic work was progressing swiftly and that Punjab-based forensic experts had been engaged in good faith.

He added that a comprehensive report prepared under the Karachi commissioner would be reviewed, and if any shortcomings were found, a judicial commission would be constituted.