Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon addressed a viral video during a recent press conference, responding to remarks made by comedian and host Tabish Hashmi about Karachi’s governance.
When asked about the clip, Memon downplayed the comments, saying such statements gain attention only because they are aired on television and amplified publicly. He urged media channels to take responsibility and conduct internal inquiries against individuals who, in his view, make misleading or inappropriate statements on air.
“Jis TV ki baat kar rahe hain, in ke bayanat ki koi value nahi hoti. Aaj aap zikr kar rahe hain to inko value mil rahi hai. Main channels se appeal karta hoon ke jis shakhs ne ghalat baat ki hai, us ke khilaf action lein. Hum sahafat ki azadi ki baat karte hain, lekin channels apne daftar mein aise anchors ke khilaf inquiry karein,” he said.
Memon further criticized such commentary as uninformed, saying that people who speak in this manner lack understanding of law, history, and Sindh’s geography. He emphasized Sindh’s historical significance, noting that the province’s assembly had passed the resolution in support of the creation of Pakistan.
“Jo is tarah guftagu karte hain woh na qanoon jaante hain, na tareekh, na Sindh ki geography. Sindh woh suba hai jis ne Pakistan banaya. Aise logon ki baaton par tawajjo na dein,” he added.
Memon’s response came after a clip of Tabish Hashmi circulated widely on social media. In the video, Hashmi comments on privatization and governance failures, drawing a comparison with the privatization of PIA.
“Jis tarah hukumat se realize hua ke PIA nahi chala pa rahi to privatize kar diya. Karachi ko bhi privatize kar dein. Hum Karachi walay — Pathan, Baloch, Sindhi, Muhajir, Punjabi — mil kar isay khareed lein ge. Agar yahi standard hai, to hum is se behtar chala lein ge,” Hashmi said in the clip.
The video surfaced shortly after the Gul Plaza incident in Karachi last week, which resulted in several deaths, with many still reported missing. The tragedy reignited public anger over unsafe infrastructure, weak regulation, and governance issues in the city.
Following Memon’s remarks, many social media users appeared to side with Hashmi, viewing his comments as an expression of the frustration felt by Karachi’s residents.
The exchange highlights the growing gap between official narratives and public sentiment, particularly in the aftermath of tragedies such as the Gul Plaza incident, where questions of accountability remain a pressing concern.