Negligence Blamed for Gul Plaza Fire Tragedy, Police Charge Sheet Reveals

KARACHI: The recent police charge sheet submitted in connection with the devastating Gul Plaza fire has placed substantial blame on the building management for their negligence, leading to a tragedy that claimed at least 73 lives.

The inferno, which broke out on January 17 and took nearly two days to extinguish, left over 1,100 shops destroyed. The Nabi Bux police filed the updated charge sheet on September 3, following a previous version that was dismissed by a judicial magistrate for lack of thorough investigation.

Details of the Accusations

The latest charge sheet identifies four individuals as key accused in the case. They include Naimatullah, the father of an 11-year-old victim Huzaifa, who owned an artificial flower shop; Tanveer Pasta, President of the Gul Plaza Traders Association; and association members Ammar Ismail and Muhammad Ramzan. This revision follows earlier accusations against six individuals.

Management Failures Highlighted

According to the charge sheet, the Gul Plaza management lacked essential firefighting equipment, which was crucial given the building's size. The document noted that emergency lighting was inadequate, causing significant difficulties for individuals trying to evacuate the building during the chaos.

Moreover, it was reported that only two gates were open at the time of the fire, with the locks on other exits preventing people from escaping. The charge sheet highlighted that the iron gates on the third floor were padlocked by the guards, further complicating the evacuation efforts. Additionally, it was stated that the management had instructed K-Electric to cut off the power supply despite being aware of the absence of alternative lighting arrangements.

Source: www.dawn.com