Sindh govt seeks judicial probe into Gul Plaza tragedy: Sharjeel

The Sindh government has decided to establish a judicial commission to investigate the Gul Plaza fire, which claimed the lives of around 80 people.

Addressing a press conference alongside Additional IG Karachi Azad Khan and Karachi Commissioner Hassan Naqvi on Thursday, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon stated that the provincial government has written a letter to the Sindh High Court (SHC) chief justice requesting an inquiry led by a serving judge into the devastating inferno.

In a significant admission of administrative failure, the minister acknowledged delays in providing water to fire tenders during the inferno. Consequently, the Karachi water and sewerage body’s hydrant in-charge has been suspended, he added.

The provincial government also took decisive action against the Civil Defence Department. Despite conducting multiple safety audits of Gul Plaza since 2023 and issuing two notices regarding inadequate emergency arrangements, the department failed to enforce compliance or escalate the violations, Sharjeel said.

Due to this “lack of precautionary and legal measures,” the director of Civil Defence (South) and the additional controller of Civil Defence have been placed under immediate suspension, with departmental proceedings initiated against them. They join Municipal Commissioner Afzal Zaidi, who was suspended earlier.

The decisions follow a report submitted by a fact-finding committee comprising the Karachi commissioner, the additional IG and other members.

The senior provincial minister revealed the harrowing scale of the tragedy, noting that between 2,000 and 2,500 people were inside the building when the fire erupted. While most were evacuated or escaped, 80 individuals remained trapped and perished in the blaze.

“We want complete transparency in this incident. The government has never considered itself unaccountable,” he stated.

The move aligns with a request made a day earlier by Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori. In a separate letter to the SHC chief justice, the governor urged the formation of an independent commission to pinpoint the individuals or institutions responsible for negligence and legal breaches.

Governor Tessori emphasised that a transparent inquiry is essential to restore public confidence and prevent such “tragic incidents” in the future, stating that ensuring justice remains the administration’s foremost priority.