Officials from rescue services, fire brigade, and administration recorded their statements before a judicial commission investigating the deadly Gul Plaza fire in Karachi, authorities confirmed.
The inquiry is being conducted under the supervision of Sindh High Court judge Agha Faisal, who is leading efforts to determine the cause of the fire, response failures, and loss of lives.
During the hearing, senior officials from Rescue 1122, fire brigade, and local administration presented their accounts of the emergency response. The Director General of Rescue 1122 told the commission that the outcome might have been different if his department had received earlier information about the fire.
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Justice Faisal questioned rescue officials about whether they managed to save people trapped inside the burning building. Rescue officials responded that intense flames had engulfed the ground floor, and access points were blocked, making rescue operations extremely difficult.
The fire officer informed the commission that electricity outages worsened the situation. He explained that darkness made it harder for firefighters to locate victims and control the blaze effectively.
Meanwhile, representatives of the Gul Plaza market association stated that safety equipment, including fire extinguishers and fire balls, was available inside the building.
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However, officials are examining whether proper emergency procedures were followed during the incident.
The deadly blaze occurred at Gul Plaza located on M.A. Jinnah Road, where dozens of people were trapped as fire rapidly spread across multiple floors. The fire continued for more than 32 hours before being brought under control.
Families of the victims also appeared before the commission and raised serious concerns about the rescue operation. They alleged that rescue teams arrived but faced water shortages and lacked proper equipment. Relatives claimed that heavy machinery nearby could have been used to break windows and save trapped individuals.
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Witnesses said they could see lights from mobile phones inside the building, indicating people were still alive and waiting for help. Families argued that quicker and better-coordinated rescue efforts could have saved more lives.
Following the incident, the Government of Sindh formed a judicial commission to investigate the fire. The commission aims to identify safety lapses, determine accountability, and recommend measures to prevent similar tragedies.
The hearing has been adjourned until Thursday, with more officials expected to record their statements as the investigation continues.
