Two arrested in Lahore hotel fire case

FIR cites failure to comply with safety precautions, warnings

Punjab Police have arrested two suspects in connection with a deadly fire that had broken out in a hotel in Gulberg, while efforts were under way on Sunday to apprehend three others nominated in the case.

According to a spokesperson for the Lahore Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Operations, the arrested suspects were Kamil and Bilal, while Fazail Ahmed, Nadeem Mirza, and Atif were still at large, with police conducting raids at various locations to detain them.

An FIR was registered at Gulberg Police Station under various sections of the Pakistan Penal Code as well as the Civil Defence laws. The case includes sections 322 (qatl bis-sabab), 427 (mischief causing damage), 285 and 286 (negligent conduct with fire or combustible material), and 337, along with Section 9 of the Civil Defence Rules, 1951.

It mentioned that the fire had caused extensive damage to valuable property and hotel infrastructure and resulted from the negligence of the management. It alleged that the management had failed to comply with fire safety warnings and mandatory precautionary measures, which had contributed to the incident.

The spokesperson said technical investigations into the cause of the fire were ongoing, and forensic examinations were being carried out to establish responsibility and determine the sequence of events leading to it.

DIG Operations Faisal Kamran stressed that strict legal action was being taken against those found responsible for endangering public lives and property.

“There will be zero tolerance for criminal negligence. Anyone who compromises public safety will be dealt with under the law,” he said. He added that those responsible for the incident would be brought to justice.

Police officials reiterated that enforcement against violations of fire safety and civil defence regulations would be intensified across the city to prevent similar incidents in the future.