Popular comedian and TV host Tabish Hashmi has found himself at the center of a heated political firestorm after suggesting that Karachi should be “privatized” and handed over to its citizens to manage.
The Statement That Sparked the Row
Speaking on a private news channel following the tragic Gul Plaza fire, which claimed 61 lives, an exasperated Hashmi criticized the government’s repeated administrative failures.
Drawing a parallel to the government’s decision to sell off struggling state institutions, Hashmi remarked, “The way the government realized they can’t run PIA and privatized it, please privatize Karachi the same way.”
He suggested that the diverse communities of Karachi, including Pathans, Baloch, Sindhis, Muhajirs, and Punjabis, could collectively buy and run the city more efficiently than the current administration.
Hashmi’s comments were met with fierce opposition from various quarters, most notably from the Sindhi community. Influencers and content creators accused Hashmi of working on a “pre-planned conspiracy” to promote ethnic division and the partition of Sindh.
They labeled Hashmi and other commentators as “agents” spreading hatred under the guise of journalism, questioning their loyalty to the state.
Critics argue that such suggestions undermine the federal structure and are an insult to the sacrifices of those who have built the city within the provincial framework.
Many residents and fellow celebrities, including RJ Anoushey Ashraf, echoed Hashmi’s frustration, agreeing that the city deserves better ownership and care.
Opponents have called his remarks “ridiculous” and “anti-state,” arguing that private ownership is not a viable or legal solution for a metropolitan city.
The controversy comes at a time when Karachi is mourning the loss of a major commercial landmark, reigniting long-standing tensions over urban governance and provincial autonomy.
