KARACHI, Sep 05 (Alliance News): Police have submitted the charge sheet in the Gul Plaza fire case before a Karachi court, holding the shopping mall’s association primarily responsible for the deadly blaze.
The fire that engulfed Gul Plaza, a three-storey shopping mall in Karachi, on January 17 killed more than 70 people and raised serious questions over fire safety arrangements at the commercial building.
The mall housed nearly 1,200 businesses across its basement, mezzanine and three floors, including shops selling wedding clothes, toys, household goods and baby items.
According to the charge sheet, police found no negligence on the part of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), fire brigade or Civil Defence.
The police included 87 witnesses in the case and raised questions over fire safety arrangements at the shopping centre.
The charge sheet pointed to alleged negligence by the Gul Plaza administration as well as shortcomings in fire safety arrangements within shops and the building.
Investigators also collected CCTV footage and other evidence during the probe and included it in the charge sheet.
The forensic report found no explosive material in the examined items and detected no traces of flammable liquid.
However, traces of particles produced after burning were found in some of the examined items, according to the report.
Management allegedly aware of safety flaws
A Commission of Inquiry into the fire observed last month that the de facto management of Gul Plaza was aware of fire safety deficiencies but failed to take corrective measures.
According to the judicial commission report issued by the Sindh Home Department, the deficiencies covered all three major areas of fire safety — prevention, detection and firefighting.
The commission said the building lacked an integrated fire safety system and was being operated without the minimum fire safety capacity.
The report stated that the fire could not be considered an unforeseeable incident given the hazardous conditions in which the building was being operated.
Civil Defence inspection reports for 2024 and 2025 also recorded the absence of essential firefighting systems, including hydrants, hose reels and fire pumps.
The reports further pointed to an unreliable and non-functional fire alarm system, absence of trained personnel, lack of fire drills and non-availability of rescue equipment.
The charge sheet and inquiry findings are expected to form part of the court proceedings as authorities continue to determine responsibility for the deadly incident.
