SHC chief justice approves dedicated judicial commission secretariat within court premises
Rescue and emergency team members gather near heavy machinery before starting their search for survivors, following a massive fire that broke out in the Gul Plaza Shopping Mall in Karachi on January 22. Photo: Reuters
KARACHI:
The judicial commission established to investigate the Gul Plaza tragedy in Karachi has issued a public notice inviting evidence from the general public, following its first meeting. The commission’s inaugural session was held under the chairmanship of Justice Agha Faisal. The meeting was attended by the Karachi commissioner, as well as the law and interior secretaries.
The public notice calls on citizens to submit any information, evidence, or factual details related to the incident. The commission stated that individuals possessing relevant information about the Gul Plaza tragedy may contact it to assist in the investigation.
According to the notice, members of the public may submit information, eyewitness accounts, and factual details related to the tragedy via email. Submissions must be sent on or before February 20 to the following email address: gpi-coi@shc.gov.com.
Meanwhile, Sindh High Court Chief Justice Zafar Ahmed Rajput approved the establishment of a dedicated secretariat for the commission. The secretariat has been set up within the high court premises.
Justice Agha Faisal has also directed Karachi commissioner to notify the required staff for the commission. The staff will include a registrar, a focal person, and relevant experts to assist in the inquiry.
The commission is tasked with examining the facts and circumstances surrounding the Gul Plaza fire and is expected to submit its findings after completing the investigation.
Gul Plaza inferno
The blaze, which broke out late on January 17 at the multi-storey commercial complex in Karachi, turned into one of the city’s deadliest fires in more than a decade, as firefighters battled flames for days amid concerns about the building’s structural stability.
In the days following the blaze, officials reported at least 14 deaths with dozens missing, warning that the toll was likely to rise as rescuers worked through debris and smoke-filled sections of the building. On the fifth day, tolls climbed to around 67, with many victims difficult to identify because of severe burns.
As the search and recovery operation continued, local authorities in Sindh reported sharply rising fatality figures. The death toll reached 71 by Jan 23 as searches neared completion, while medico-legal teams relied on DNA testing and other methods to establish identities.
The tragedy also renewed scrutiny of safety compliance in Karachi’s commercial buildings. The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) cited fire-safety deficiencies across the city and issued hundreds of notices to commercial centres in the aftermath, and SBCA records showed building plan and safety violations at Gul Plaza.
The Sindh government subsequently said the case would be pursued through a judicial commission. Separate investigations and identification work continued alongside the inquiry, with Tribune reporting that police used geo-tagging and other corroboration to help identify victims, raising the number of identified victims to 69 by Jan 30.
