Hands shaken, eyes weeping, heart broken, and feeling overwhelmed, I find myself writing about one of the most threatening incidents of my life, unsure of how many more I might experience in the future. Among the many incidents that haunt the minds and hearts of the people of Karachi, one fact remains clear: any one of us could become a victim someday. Until then, we continue to wait for the next occurrence, watching as our so-called elected government squabbles with its allies over issues of authority mismanagement, corruption during their tenures, and the list goes on.

My city, my proud home that generates 70% of the country’s revenue, was once a peaceful place during my childhood. However, it has now become a hostage situation where the ruling elite shows no mercy to its own citizens. I often wonder if calling this place a ‘city’ is even justified, as there are certain things that are known only as symbols and nothing more.

It has been six days since the tragic incident at Gul Plaza, and the death toll has reached 63, with many still missing and families in pain and distress, waiting for news about their loved ones. As a concerned citizen, I feel it is my right to ask the relevant authorities why such incidents have become a norm for this city, leading to a bloodbath each time. The stories coming from eyewitnesses raise significant concerns about both the regulatory authorities and the mall management association.

Why was the electricity cut off within five minutes after the fire erupted without informing the people inside? Why were there no proper ventilation systems or emergency exits for safety precautions? Why were the majority of doors and windows closed while the mall was open? Where were the mall security and security guards to open the doors for people to evacuate?

In an apparent suicide case, a man jumped off from the fourth floor of the Civic Centre building in the port city on Monday, ARY News reported.

The tragic incident occurred before the middle of the day when a retired employee of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) went for the extreme shot.

According to details, a retired government official succumbed to his injuries when he was being shifted to a nearby hospital.

Muhammad Iqbal, 63, took retirement from KMC in the year 1999 and was having some kind of pension issues.

After paying several results-less visits to the authorities concerned in the Finance Department of the centre to receive his long-due pension, the deceased was increasingly becoming despondent over the way things were going, sources revealed.

Meanwhile, the police officials have started an investigation into the incident that whether he actually committed a suicide or died as a result of an accident.

With a global suicide rate of 16 per 100,000 populations, every year in Pakistan a mounting number of people commit suicide where they are deprived of their basic rights.