KARACHI: Police have registered a criminal case over the deadly fire at Karachi’s Gul Plaza, citing gross negligence and the absence of basic safety measures, as the death toll from the blaze rose to at least 71, officials said on Saturday.
According to police, the FIR has been registered under Sections 322, 337-H(I), 436 and 427 of the Pakistan Penal Code, with the government named as the complainant. The case currently lists unknown persons as the investigation report is yet to be finalised and no individual has so far been held responsible.
The FIR states that serious negligence and carelessness were evident at Gul Plaza, where no adequate fire safety arrangements were in place. It adds that lights were switched off during the fire, causing panic and confusion, while several gates were found locked, further trapping people inside the building.
Following the registration of the case, authorities sealed the plaza as investigations gathered pace. A technical committee formed by the Sindh government, comprising experts from NED University, carried out a detailed inspection of the structure, focusing on the condition of pillars and overall stability.
Deputy Commissioner South Javed Khoso said the team would submit a comprehensive report to the Sindh government and district administration, assessing whether the building could remain standing, required partial demolition, or needed to be completely razed. “After the full assessment, a final decision will be taken regarding demolition,” he said.
Rescue officials earlier confirmed that the death toll had reached at least 71 after additional human remains were recovered during debris removal operations. Amir Hassan, in-charge of the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee’s identification desk, said four bags containing human remains were brought to the hospital overnight, possibly belonging to four individuals.
The fire, which erupted late Saturday night last week, completely gutted the commercial plaza and left the structure critically damaged. All recovered remains were shifted to Civil Hospital Karachi for medico-legal formalities.
Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah announced that the plaza would be demolished and reconstructed within two years, while affected traders would be provided temporary shops within two months. Addressing the Sindh Assembly, he said two commercial buildings with a combined total of 850 shops had been identified, with owners agreeing to waive rent for at least one year to facilitate displaced traders.
“The number of shops will not be increased, and reconstruction will strictly follow Karachi Building Control Authority-approved plans,” the chief minister said, assuring traders of government support as investigations into the deadly blaze continue.
