Karachi: Renowned Pakistani host and comedian Tabish Hashmi has expressed deep sorrow and anger over the Gul Plaza tragedy in Karachi, calling for accountability and strong action from the Sindh government.
Speaking on Geo News programme Report Card, Tabish Hashmi said that it would be hard to find a home in Karachi that did not have something bought from Gul Plaza.
“From childhood to youth, and now even in our later years, the associations and landmarks that once defined Karachi are disappearing one by one,” he said.
Referring to the Sindh chief minister’s press conference, Hashmi said accountability should go beyond words.
“He said he is answerable, but accountability does not happen through statements alone. This is not the first incident in Karachi. There have been many fires, and many children have died under dumpers,” he added.
The host questioned whether any real consequences followed such tragedies.
“If the chief minister is answerable, then tell me — did he lose his position? Was his salary cut? Even the compensation paid to victims does not come from their own pockets,” he remarked.
Tabish Hashmi went on to make a sharp and symbolic suggestion.
“If you ask me, I would say just like the government realised it could not run PIA and moved towards privatisation, Karachi should also be privatised,” he said.
He added that people of Karachi — including Pathans, Baloch, Sindhis, Muhajirs and Punjabis — could collectively buy and manage the city.
“I am confident we would run it much better. At the very least, we would not run it worse than this, even if we tried,” he concluded.