Sindh govt orders judicial probe into Gul Plaza tragedy

The Sindh government on Thursday announced that the investigation into the Gul Plaza tragedy would be conducted through a judicial commission.

On the night of January 17, a devastating fire broke out at Gul Plaza, a multi-storey building on Karachi’s MA Jinnah Road, claiming the lives of at least 79 people. The blaze, which reportedly started on the ground floor, quickly spread through the building, leaving dozens injured, while several bodies remain unidentified.

In the aftermath, political tensions in the city have escalated, with calls for federal or military oversight, a judical inquiry of the matter and a sharp exchange of accusations between the Muutahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan and the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party in Sindh. 

Addressing a press conference, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said the high court would be requested to appoint a serving judge to review and decide the matter. He clarified that the judicial commission was not formed at the request of any political party.

“The Sindh government itself recognised the need and made the decision,” he said, adding that parties were free to protest or politicise the issue.

The minister was flanked by Karachi police chief Azad Khan and Commissioner Hassan Naqvi.

Memon said that following the Gul Plaza incident, a special cabinet meeting was convened during which a sub-committee was formed. He added that the chief minister had also constituted a separate fact-finding committee, whose report was now received.

“Today, important decisions have been taken by the chief minister in light of the committee’s report,” he said.

He said that, to ensure greater transparency in the decisions of the fact-finding and cabinet committees and to facilitate further investigation, a letter was being sent to the chief justice of the Sindh High Court. The government would request that a serving high court judge be appointed to conduct a judicial inquiry, so that all aspects could be reviewed and a decision taken in accordance with the law.

Memon added that the government had never considered itself above accountability and had itself identified the areas where shortcomings were observed. “The government has admitted where its deficiencies were,” he said.

Providing further details, the minister said that between 2,000 and 2,500 people were present in Gul Plaza at the time the fire broke out. While many were able to escape after the incident began, 80 people lost their lives.

He said that a review of the cabinet sub-committee’s report revealed that the Civil Defence Department had conducted several fire audits of the building since 2023 but failed to take any subsequent action. He added that the district administration did not inform the government about this lapse.

“Gul Plaza management had been issued notices twice, and two safety audits had been conducted, during which they were informed that adequate safety arrangements were not in place,” he said.

He added that the director of Civil Defence and the additional controller of Civil Defence, District South Karachi, “neither informed the authorities nor took any action against the violators”.

“As a result, director of Civil Defence and the additional controller of Civil Defence, District South Karachi have been suspended with immediate effect,” Memon said, adding that if anyone else was found to be involved, they too would be punished.

Memon said the sub-committee also held the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation responsible for the delay in supplying water to fire tenders, which affected the firefighting efforts of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), Fire Brigade and Rescue 1122.

“So it has been decided that the chief engineer (Bulk) and the officer in charge of hydrants at the Karachi Water Corporation should be suspended with immediate effect, and a departmental inquiry will be conducted against them,” he said, adding that if any negligence or failure on the part of a senior officer or authority was found, action would also be taken against them.

He added that it was also observed that the KMC, Rescue 1122, and the Fire Brigade did not have sufficient training, firefighting equipment, or practical capabilities to cope with an incident of such severity. He, however, lauded their courage during the fire, noting that a fireman, Furqan Shaukat, also lost his life in the line of duty.

He said the senior director of municipal services should be suspended with immediate effect, and a departmental inquiry would be conducted against him for failing to adequately prepare the fire staff. He also directed the department to carry out a comprehensive needs assessment to improve the firefighting capabilities of provincial and local government departments.

On the cause and spread of the fire, he said the inspector general of police had explained that it started from an 11-year-old child and spread through AC ducts. “There is no need for a blame game; no one set the fire. Evidence will be submitted to the court when required,” he said.

Karachi Additional IGP Azad Khan said the fire was accidental. “The owner of a paper flower shop had gone out, and a child with a matchstick caused the fire,” he explained.

Memon said that Gul Plaza did not have a fire-fighting system and was found to be in violation of approved building regulations. He added that if any negligence on the part of the union is established, action would be taken against them.

Speaking on the irregularities discovered during the lease phase of Gul Plaza, he said, “Serious irregularities were observed in the lease of Gul Plaza. The Anti-Corruption Department has been directed to take action according to the law.”

He criticised certain political parties for politicising the tragedy, saying that compensation of Rs10 million was being delivered to the victims’ homes.

Referring to political pressures, the minister said that the government had from day one refused to yield to any party.

“Different political parties tried to politicise the Gul Plaza tragedy. We have not bowed to any political pressure. Whoever is at fault will be revealed by the judicial commission. Let the commission complete its investigation; do not draw your own conclusions. After the report, the court will decide who is responsible,” he said.