The Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Traffic Police Karachi, Pir Muhammad Shah, has been removed from his position, according to an official notification issued by the authorities.
As per the notification, Mazhar Nawaz Sheikh has been appointed as the new DIG Traffic Karachi, replacing Pir Muhammad Shah.
Sources said the removal followed criticism over poor traffic management after the Gul Plaza fire incident, which caused severe disruption to traffic flow in and around the area. The traffic congestion reportedly created difficulties for emergency services, including fire brigade vehicles, in reaching the site promptly.
It is worth recalling that on the night of January 17, a devastating fire broke out at Gul Plaza, a shopping center located on M.A. Jinnah Road. The tragedy resulted in the deaths of 79 people, making it one of the deadliest fire incidents in the city’s recent history.
Following the incident, the Sindh government announced a judicial inquiry into the tragedy, while a separate government investigation committee report has also been made public to determine responsibility and identify lapses.
Authorities stated that further administrative actions may follow based on the findings of ongoing investigations.
