The blaze, which broke out late Saturday night, has destroyed most parts of the building. PHOTO: REUTERS
Police have registered a criminal case over the deadly fire at Karachi’s Gul Plaza, citing negligence and lack of safety measures, as the death toll from the blaze rose to at least 71, officials said on Saturday.
According to police, an FIR has been registered under Sections 322, 337-H(I), 436 and 427 of the Pakistan Penal Code. The case has been filed with the government as the complainant and names unknown persons, as the investigation report has yet to be completed.
The FIR states that severe negligence and carelessness were shown at Gul Plaza, where no safety measures were in place. It says the lights were switched off during the fire, creating difficulties for people inside the building, while several gates were found closed, worsening the situation. So far, no individual has been held responsible in the case.
Read: Investigation into plaza fire gains momentum
Following the registration of the FIR, authorities sealed the building. Meanwhile, a technical investigation team formed by the Sindh government, comprising experts from NED University, inspected Gul Plaza. The team examined the structure of the building, particularly its pillars, to assess its safety.
The team will submit a report to the Sindh government and the district administration, detailing how long the building can remain standing, whether it requires immediate demolition, or if only certain parts are unsafe.
“The NED University team is reviewing the building,” Deputy Commissioner South Javed Khoso said. “After a complete assessment of the building, a decision will be made regarding its demolition.”
Earlier on Friday, authorities said the death toll had risen to 71 after rescue teams recovered additional human remains during ongoing search and debris removal operations.
According to Amir Hassan, in-charge of the identification desk at the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee (CPLC), four bags containing human remains were brought to the hospital overnight. “These remains could belong to four individuals,” he said, adding that the death toll had potentially reached 71.
The fire, which broke out on Saturday night last week, destroyed the commercial plaza and left the structure severely damaged. Human remains recovered from the rubble were shifted to Civil Hospital Karachi for medico-legal procedures.
Read More: Sindh CM announces provision of temporary shops for Gul Plaza traders within 2 months
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said on Friday that the damaged plaza would be demolished and reconstructed within two years, while affected traders would be provided temporary shops within two months.
“The plaza will have to be demolished, but we will rebuild Gul Plaza within two years, reconstruct the shops and hand them back to the traders,” Shah said, stressing that the number of shops would not be increased and reconstruction would follow Karachi Building Control Authority-approved plans.
Addressing the Sindh Assembly, the chief minister said the government had identified two commercial buildings with a total of 850 shops, whose owners had agreed to waive rent for one year. Efforts were under way to extend the rent-free period to two years to help traders resume their businesses.
