The Gul Plaza Traders’ Union has challenged the police investigation into the deadly Gul Plaza fire, alleging that the inquiry was mishandled and calling for an independent investigation into the tragedy that claimed over 70 lives.
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The fire erupted at Gul Plaza on January 17 and continued burning for more than 32 hours before firefighters managed to bring it under control.
According to the investigation report, the blaze claimed 72 lives, while the remains of four victims remain unclaimed.
Union representatives argued that the destruction of the building was caused by the negligence of government departments rather than the actions of traders or shop owners affected by the incident.
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A petition filed by Tanveer Pasta and other traders has urged authorities to conduct a joint investigation involving police and national security agencies to ensure transparency and impartiality.
According to the petition, police treated victims of the tragedy as suspects during the investigation. The petitioners also objected to the inclusion of an 11-year-old child among the accused in the case.
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Counsel for the traders argued that the investigation should be reviewed and responsibility determined through a fair and comprehensive inquiry. The petition seeks a reassessment of the evidence and the findings reached by investigators.
Meanwhile, Karachi police have submitted a charge sheet in the case to prosecutors. However, media reports claimed that the findings of the Gul Plaza Judicial Commission were not included in the submitted document.
The charge sheet concluded that the fire was accidental, citing findings from a forensic investigation. Shopkeeper and his 11-year-old son were named among the accused, alongside Gul Plaza Market Committee President Tanveer Pasta, Vice President Ammar Ismail, General Secretary Muhammad Ameen, and Joint Secretary Muhammad Ramzan.
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Investigators declared all named accused as absconders. Statements from four eyewitnesses were recorded under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code as part of the investigation.
A forensic analysis conducted by the Punjab Forensic Science Laboratory found no evidence of explosive materials, supporting the conclusion that the fire was not caused by an explosion.
Separately, a court granted protective bail to the accused and directed them to submit surety bonds.
The court ordered the adult accused to furnish bonds of Rs. 500,000 each, while 11-year-old Huzaifa was directed to submit a surety bond of Rs. 10,000.
