KARACHI: The Sindh Forensic Laboratory has successfully identified 12 additional bodies recovered from the Gul Plaza fire incident, raising the total number of identified victims to 39.
According to Identification Project in-charge Amir Hassan, the latest identifications were carried out using the “proof of presence” method rather than DNA testing. The remains of the newly identified victims will now be handed over to their grieving families.
He explained that the proof of presence process involves verifying a victim’s location at the time of the incident through multiple indicators. Records were compiled based on the specific shop or area where a body was found, along with mobile phone location data and other supporting evidence. These combined factors helped forensic experts match body parts to individuals linked to particular locations within the building.
The remains identified include Umar Nabeel, Ayisha, Ali bin Umar Nabeel, Khizar Ali, Haider Ali and Amir Ali. Similarly, the identities of Abu Bakar, Yaseen, Sadaqatullah, Yousuf Khan, Naimatullah and Abdullah were confirmed from remains recovered at the site.
Amir Hassan added that efforts are still underway to identify remaining victims through DNA analysis, while the proof of presence method was adopted as a final option where genetic identification was not possible.
Gul Plaza Tragedy
The tragic incident occurred late Saturday night, January 17, when a massive fire broke out at Gul Plaza on M.A. Jinnah Road, Karachi. The blaze rapidly spread through the shopping mall, trapping dozens of people inside. Firefighting teams managed to control the inferno after more than 32 hours, highlighting serious shortcomings in the city’s emergency response system.
After the rescue operation concluded, authorities declared the building structurally unsafe and sealed it. Affected families coordinated with officials through help desks and DNA collection centres, while engineers carried out detailed assessments of the extensively damaged structure.
