MQM-Pakistan leader Dr Farooq Sattar on Monday called on the media to stand with the relatives of victims of the Gul Plaza tragedy and accused political leaders and government officials of negligence and corruption.

Addressing a press conference in Bahadurabad, Sattar said the building “will be made a graveyard of those who ruled for eighteen years,” referring to the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government that was in power in 2009. He alleged that the accused responsible for the tragedy was still in office.

He demanded that Manzoor Kaka be removed from his position and that the political system be reformed. He called on Hassan Bakshi of Abad to join the MQM-Pakistan in demanding accountability.

The MQM-Pakistan leader said documents obtained in the aftermath of the tragedy were “surprising” and suggested that several secretaries were complicit in the crimes.

He further accused Sardar Saleem Haider and Faisal Karim Kundi of engaging in political activities while holding government positions, and criticised PPP governors for carrying out party activities from government offices.

He urged the government to ensure fire safety measures in all buildings to prevent another incident like the Gul Plaza and called for building inspections in consultation with opposition parties. Sattar said anti-corruption operations were initiated during the tenure of Nematullah.

“The government does not care about human lives. Humans are treated like insects,” Farooq Sattar said, adding that Governor Kamran Tessori was among the first officials to arrive at the site of the Gul Plaza tragedy.