In a joint parliamentary session held on Friday, lawmakers from both houses of the parliament passed a resolution expressing solidarity with the victims of Karachi’s Gul Plaza inferno, calling on the Sindh government to introduce “systemic reforms” ensuring that the tragedy is not repeated.

Friday’s session was summoned by President Asif Ali Zardari a day earlier, and was presided over by National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq.

The fire that erupted at Gul Plaza last week has left at least 67 people dead in its wake. The plaza, parts of which have collapsed due to the blaze, was a ground-plus-three building with 1,200 shops spread over 8,000 square yards.

In the resolution passed today, the parliament expressed solidarity with the families of the victims and took note of the “reported shortcomings that turned an accident into a mass tragedy,” calling for systemic reforms.

“The Parliament offers its heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the families of the deceased and prays for the swift recovery of the injured,” the resolution read.

It also paid tribute to firefighter Furqan Ali, who embraced martyrdom while battling the deadly fire.

In the joint resolution, the parliament urged the Sindh government to “ensure compensation to the families of victims and immediate recovery of the businesses affected.”

“Immediately undertake a city-wide emergency fire-risk audit of all commercial and residential buildings,” the resolution read, adding that the number of fire stations and firefighting equipment should be increased as well.

It also called upon the federal government to “facilitate and provide necessary support to the Provincial Government of Sindh in this crisis situation.”

The parliament vowed to “stand in unanimous solidarity with the people of Karachi and the victims’ families in this hour of immense grief”.

It further demanded that “lasting action” should be taken so that “lives lost in Gul Plaza will not go in vain.”

Senator Sherry Rehman calls on govt to play its part

PPP Senator Sherry Rehman, in her address to the joint session, expressed support for the resolution, calling on the federal government to play its part in supporting Karachi.

“Gul Plaza tragedy has been heartbreaking for all of us,” she said, adding that it was particularly difficult for “families who were awaiting the recovery of their loved ones’ bodies”.

During her address, the PPP leader underscored the need for readjusting resources as per population.

Taking note of MQM-P’s demand of handing over Karachi to the federal government, she said, “PPP has many, many contributions to Karachi, and while everyone has a right to criticise, do not add fuel to the fire”.

She urged MQM-P to “not engage in politics over dead bodies, rather help us in the recovery efforts”.

Joint session passes 3 bills

The session also saw the passage of three bills, including the Daanish Schools Authority Bill 2025, the Human Rights (Amendment) Bill 2025, and the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill 2025.

President Zardari returned these bills last month despite their passage by the Senate and the NA.

A day earlier, according to Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, the government had already taken other allied parties into confidence on the matter and assured them that all three bills would be passed in the joint sitting.

Also during the session, the opposition staged a protest as its members, led by leaders of the opposition in the NA and Senate, Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, respectively, gathered in front of the speaker’s dais.

The session was adjourned for an indefinite period.

JUI-F seeks discussion on Board of Peace

Meanwhile, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Senator Kamran Murtaza submitted an adjournment motion in the Senate, seeking discussion on Pakistan joining US President Donald Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ without taking the parliament or cabinet into confidence.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other world leaders signed the charter for the “Board of Peace” headed by Trump, who has billed the body as a platform for resolving international conflicts.

In a post on X, the JUI-F Senator said, “An adjournment motion has been submitted in the Senate on behalf of JUI-F regarding Pakistan’s inclusion in the Board of Peace.”

“The House may adjourn its normal business in order to discuss an issue of public importance, whereby the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. issued a statement, i.e. ‘Pakistan will join US President Donald Trump’s ‘Board of Peace to help achieve lasting peace in Gaza’ without taking the Parliament into confidence or without placing the matter before the Cabinet,” the motion read.

It added that such an approach was “against the saying of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.”

Achakzai condemns Imaan and Hadi’s arrest

Opposition leader in the NA Achakzai, while speaking in the National Assembly today, condemned the arrest of activist and lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, stating that “targeting political dissenters violated the Constitution”.

The couple was arrested earlier today in Islamabad while they were reportedly en route to the district courts.

Achakzai stressed that the “freedom of expression and basic civil rights were being continuously curtailed in the country”.

“Using the law to protect the interests of a powerful class was unfortunate,” Acahkzai maintained, adding that such acts “severely undermined the public’s trust in state institutions”.

Achakzai demanded their release, calling for a “transparent and impartial” investigation into the arrest.