The fire, which started Saturday night, destroyed most 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 fire rose to at least 71, officials said on Saturday.
According to the 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 a complainant and names unknown persons as the investigation report is yet to be completed.
The FIR claims that gross negligence and carelessness was demonstrated at Gul Plaza, where no safety measures were implemented. The lights were turned off during the fire, causing difficulties for people inside the building, while several doors were found closed, making the situation worse. So far no person has been held responsible in the case.
Read: The investigation into the square fire gains momentum
After the FIR was registered, the 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 whether only certain parts are unsafe.
“The NED University team is checking the building,” South Deputy Commissioner Javed Khoso said. “After a full 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 counter of the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee (CPLC), four bags containing human remains were brought to the hospital during the night. “These remains could belong to four people,” he said, adding that the death toll could reach 71.
The fire, which started on Saturday night of last week, destroyed the shopping plaza and left the structure severely damaged. The human remains recovered from the rubble were shifted to Karachi Civil Hospital 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 with temporary shops within two months.
“The plaza will have to be demolished, but we will rebuild Gul Plaza within two years, rebuild the shops and return them to the traders,” Shah said, stressing that the number of shops would not increase and that the reconstruction would follow the plans approved by the Karachi Building Control Authority.
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 being made to extend the rent-free period to two years to help traders resume business.
