KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly session was abruptly adjourned on Tuesday after yet another stormy protest by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), which continued to press for the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the Gul Plaza fire incident.

Like the previous sitting on Monday, the 168-member house gave a deserted look as the Deputy Speaker Anthony Naveed began the proceedings, with only Jamaat-i-Islami’s lone member Muhammad Farooq on the opposition benches and a handful of treasury members in attendance.

Sticking to their Monday’s strategy, the MQM-P members stormed in and gathered in front of the podium, chanting slogans of “Qatil, Qatil, CM Qatil” and “Judicial Commission Qaim Karo” as the deputy speaker called Question Hour.

However, the stormy protest and ruckus in the house forced the deputy speaker to scrap Question Hour and give the floor to Opposition Leader Ali Khurshidi.

The opposition leader reiterated the demand for a judicial inquiry, calling the government’s committee a “dhakosla” (sham) and questioning how officials could conduct a transparent investigation.

He also tabled a resolution and sought government support.

Responding to the opposition leader, Sindh Law Minister Zia-ul-Lanjar accused him of repeating the same speech for three days without listening to the government’s stance.

He opposed the resolution and said that what was demanded in the resolution had already been done by the government.

Mr Lanjar told the house that the cabinet had decided to form a committee headed by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah to investigate the tragedy, with the possibility of a judicial commission if the inquiry was found insufficient.

Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon also defended the provincial government’s position, stating that a five-member committee had been formed and that a forensic team from Lahore was already conducting an investigation into the incident.

As tensions escalated, MQM-P members stood on their seats, chanting slogans against the provincial government, forcing the deputy speaker to announce a Question Hour break.

However, no question was taken up as the MQM-P members continued their protest in front of the chair.

The session was eventually adjourned until Friday.

Published in Dawn, January 28th, 2026