KARACHI: In a major step toward uncovering the facts behind the Gul Plaza fire tragedy, the Sindh High Court (SHC) has ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident to ensure transparency and accountability.
According to an official notification, the Sindh High Court has constituted a judicial commission to investigate the causes and circumstances of the devastating fire. The decision was approved by the Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court, formally initiating judicial proceedings into the matter.
Justice Agha Faisal has been appointed as the head of the single-member judicial commission. The commission will examine the factors that led to the outbreak of the fire and determine responsibility for any negligence, violations, or lapses that may have contributed to the tragedy.
The inquiry will be conducted under Section 3 of the Sindh Tribunals of Inquiry Ordinance. The commission has been granted full authority to thoroughly probe the incident, assess accountability, and compile its findings in a detailed report.
Officials stated that the formation of the judicial commission aims to address public concerns, ensure an impartial investigation, and bring all relevant facts before the public.
As per official correspondence, the Sindh government will decide the duration of the commission’s work, after which Justice Agha Faisal will submit the inquiry report along with recommendations.
The Gul Plaza fire sparked widespread outrage and concern across Karachi, with political stakeholders and civil society strongly demanding an independent and transparent investigation into the incident.
Gul Plaza Tragedy
A massive fire erupted at Gul Plaza, located on M.A. Jinnah Road, late on Saturday night, January 17. The blaze engulfed the commercial building, trapping dozens of people inside. Firefighting efforts continued for more than 32 hours before the fire was finally brought under control, highlighting serious shortcomings in the city’s emergency response mechanisms.
The structure has since been declared unsafe. Rescue operations were carried out with the assistance of the Army, Rangers, and civil authorities as teams searched for missing individuals. Families of the victims coordinated with officials at help desks and DNA collection centres, while engineers conducted assessments to evaluate the extent of structural damage.
