In the ongoing investigation into the Gul Plaza fire, the Judicial Commission heard statements from children who were reportedly playing with matches at the scene, the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) City said on Monday.
The police official told the commission that investigators have recorded statements from the children, who admitted to playing with a matchbox at the time of the incident.
The SSP added that the fire spread rapidly. By the time rescue teams arrived, the side facing the main road was completely engulfed in flames, while the side near the DC Office saw less fire, with people busy removing their belongings.
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When the commission asked about the timing, the SSP said the incident was around 10:45 PM. He added that police tried to block people from three directions, but the fire quickly engulfed all sides. DVR footage and items from the basement have been collected as part of the inquiry.
The SSP told the commission that blankets, clothes, tissues and spray bottles were found at the scene and that these are highly flammable.
He said his assessment was that children playing with matches, combined with flammable material, was the main caused which spread the fire.
The commission requested CCTV footage from the basement and asked whether smoke appeared before the flames.
Gul Plaza fire probe records rescue officials’ key statements
Police confirmed that Gul Plaza had 17 gates, but only four were open at the time of the fire. When asked who was responsible for opening the gates, the SSP said it was the Gul Plaza Association, which collects fees from shops and manages security staff.
He added that his role was to keep the public away from rescue paths. He did not know the number of people inside, and no one instructed police to open the gates. Gates are normally closed by 10 PM, but were kept open due to the approaching Ramadan.
The commission also questioned SSP Traffic Ijaz Sheikh about how emergency routes were maintained. He explained that ongoing Green Line project work had narrowed nearby roads to 12 and 15 feet, but police deployed officers from across the city to manage traffic and ensure access for emergency vehicles.
Officials from Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) informed the commission that Gul Plaza had four gas connections – two commercial, one industrial, and one domestic.
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The industrial connection, previously used to operate chillers, had been suspended since November. At the time of the fire, gas supply was also shut due to load shedding. SSGC confirmed that the gas lines were located outside the building, reducing additional risk.
Rehan Hanif, President of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce, said claim forms were being collected from affected traders. Out of 1,208 shops, 849 claims were submitted, of which 786 were approved, 51 are disputed, and three rejected.
Karachi Municipal Corporation (KMC) officials also presented historical property details, noting that the land was leased in 1884 to the East India Tramway Company, later sold to private owners, and eventually transferred to the current leaseholder, M/S Jenika, under a 99-year lease.
