Actor Durefishan Saleem has spoken out strongly following the deadly fire at Karachi’s Gul Plaza, saying public grief can no longer be met with rehearsed condolences and delayed responses, and calling for accountability from the city’s leadership.
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In an Instagram post shared after the incident, which has claimed at least 61 lives so far, Saleem said the tragedy reflected long-standing neglect of Karachi and systemic failures that continue to put residents at risk. She emphasised that public figures have a responsibility to speak out when lives are repeatedly lost due to preventable causes.
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“Visibility comes with responsibility, and influence is meaningless if it isn’t used to speak when something is deeply wrong,” the actor wrote. She described the series of deadly incidents in the city as the result of sustained disregard for public safety, adding that silence in the face of such failures amounted to complicity.
Saleem stressed that merely raising questions was no longer sufficient. “When lives are lost repeatedly due to failures that could have been prevented, asking questions is no longer enough. Accountability must be demanded,” she said.
Tagging Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab in her post, the Ishq Murshid star said that expressions of sympathy and routine reports were inadequate responses to repeated tragedies. “Leadership exists to protect lives, and when that protection fails again and again, consequences must follow,” she wrote.
She further called for urgent action and concrete measures rather than what she described as empty promises. According to Saleem, Karachi deserved more than statements and assurances and required immediate, meaningful steps to ensure the safety of its residents.
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Other members of the entertainment industry echoed similar sentiments. Actor Yasir Hussain questioned what measures authorities were taking to prevent such disasters in the future. Meanwhile, several celebrities, including Sajal Ali, Aiman Khan and singer Samar Jafri, expressed grief over the loss of lives.
Actors Sarwat Gilani and Zhalay Sarhadi have also been using their platforms to help affected businesses and advocate for solutions in the aftermath of the fire.