KMC Denies Administrative Negligence in Gul Plaza Tragedy, Shifts Responsibility to Other Agencies
The Judicial Commission investigating the devastating Gul Plaza Tragedy has received a formal response from the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), in which the civic body categorically denies any administrative negligence on its part regarding the incident. The municipal commissioner of KMC submitted a detailed written reply to the commission's questionnaire, outlining the corporation's stance and shifting blame to other governmental institutions.
KMC's Jurisdictional Limits and Blame-Shifting Claims
In its response, the commissioner emphasized that KMC's jurisdiction is strictly limited to the main thoroughfares, thereby absolving the corporation from responsibilities related to the streets surrounding Gul Plaza. The reply explicitly stated that the removal of encroachments from these adjacent streets falls under the purview of the Town Municipal Corporation Saddar. This delineation of duties forms a key part of KMC's defense against allegations of negligence.
Division of Safety and Rescue Responsibilities
Furthermore, the commissioner clarified the division of safety-related responsibilities among various agencies. According to the submission, conducting fire audits is the designated duty of the Civil Defence Directorate, while safety audits under the Emergency Rescue Service Act 2023 are mandated to Rescue 1122. The response highlighted a significant legislative shift, noting that under the Sindh Local Government Act 2013, firefighting was previously KMC's responsibility. However, with the enactment of the 2023 law, these firefighting and rescue duties have been officially transferred to Rescue 1122.
Transfer Process and Voluntary Audits
The commissioner detailed that approval to initiate the transfer process of firefighting responsibilities was granted during a council meeting held on December 11, 2025. In a proactive move, KMC also revealed that it had voluntarily conducted fire safety audits of 200 buildings in 2024 and submitted the comprehensive report to the commissioner. Despite this effort, KMC claimed that the district administration failed to take any significant follow-up action based on the findings of the report.
Traffic Conditions During the Incident
Addressing the conditions at the time of the tragedy, the commissioner explained that the heavy traffic on MA Jinnah Road was primarily due to the ongoing construction of the Green Line project. This factor was presented to contextualize the operational challenges faced during the incident, further supporting KMC's argument that external circumstances contributed to the devastation.
