Gul Plaza Tragedy: Century-Old Land Disputes, Illegal Leasing Exposed in Initial Probe

Photo File (Dawn)

A detailed preliminary investigation report into the Gul Plaza tragedy has been submitted to the Sindh government, uncovering a long history of land ownership disputes, lease violations, and administrative negligence spanning more than a century, according to ARY News.

The report states that the land on which Gul Plaza was constructed originally belonged to the Karachi Municipal Corporation (KMC). In 1883, the plot was leased to the East India Company for a period of 99 years to operate tram services in the city.

According to the findings, during the mayoral tenure of MQM leader Farooq Sattar, the same land was leased to a private firm, the Jeneka Group. Notably, the company purchased the land just one month before the original 99-year lease expired, raising serious questions about the legality of the transaction.

Despite the expiration of the lease, construction activities reportedly began and continued in clear violation of building regulations. The report confirms that on November 3, 1991, the KMC formally leased the land for Gul Plaza during Farooq Sattar’s tenure as mayor, with official documents bearing his signature.

It further reveals that the lease was granted at a nominal rent of just Rs3 per square yard, a rate considered far below market value. The report highlights that construction on the KMC land had already been underway from 1883 until 1990 without a valid lease.

The investigation also points to administrative inaction during the mayoral tenure of Jamaat-e-Islami leader Abdul Sattar Afridi, stating that no effective measures were taken to stop the illegal construction despite clear irregularities.

Additionally, in 2003, extra floors of Gul Plaza were regularized during the tenure of Jamaat-e-Islami mayor Naimatullah Khan, further compounding concerns over governance failures and unauthorized construction.

The report concludes that weak oversight, illegal leasing practices, and repeated regulatory violations played a significant role in creating the circumstances that led to the Gul Plaza incident.

Sindh government officials are now expected to thoroughly review the findings and determine appropriate legal and administrative actions against those responsible.