Gul Plaza judicial commission invites public evidence after first meeting

SHC chief justice approves dedicated judicial commission secretariat within court premises

KARACHI:

The judicial commission established to investigate the Gul Plaza tragedy in Karachi has issued a public notice inviting evidence from the general public, following its first meeting. The commission’s inaugural session was held under the chairmanship of Justice Agha Faisal. The meeting was attended by the Karachi commissioner, as well as the law and interior secretaries.

During the meeting, the commission issued a public notice inviting evidence from the general public. The notice includes the commission’s terms of reference (ToRs) and calls on citizens with relevant information about the tragedy to submit details via email by February 20.

The Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court has approved the establishment of a dedicated secretariat for the commission, which has been set up within the Sindh High Court premises. Justice Agha Faisal also directed the Karachi commissioner to notify staff for the commission, including a registrar, a focal person, and relevant experts.

According to the ToRs, the inquiry will examine alleged violations of the approved building plan, obstacles to emergency evacuation, and shortcomings in fire safety audits. The commission will also assess firefighting arrangements, possible negligence, the causes and circumstances of the fire, and the response time and effectiveness of the rescue operation.

The provincial interior minister stated that the commission would conduct a comprehensive review of all aspects related to the incident to determine responsibility and accountability. The judicial commission is mandated to complete its investigation and submit its report within eight weeks.

Read More: Four eyewitnesses testify before magistrate in Gul Plaza blaze case

The Sindh Home Department issued the formal notification for the commission on February 10. Earlier, on February 4, the Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court nominated Justice Agha Faisal to head the inquiry. The Sindh government had written letters on January 19 and February 2 seeking the formation of the commission, while the Sindh governor also recommended a transparent and impartial investigation on January 28.

Gul Plaza inferno

The blaze, which broke out late on January 17 at the multi-storey commercial complex in Karachi, turned into one of the city’s deadliest fires in more than a decade, as firefighters battled flames for days amid concerns about the building’s structural stability.

In the days following the blaze, officials reported at least 14 deaths with dozens missing, warning that the toll was likely to rise as rescuers worked through debris and smoke-filled sections of the building. On the fifth day, tolls climbed to around 67, with many victims difficult to identify because of severe burns.

Also Read: SHC appoints Justice Agha Faisal to lead Gul Plaza inferno inquiry

As the search and recovery operation continued, local authorities in Sindh reported sharply rising fatality figures. The death toll reached 71 by Jan 23 as searches neared completion, while medico-legal teams relied on DNA testing and other methods to establish identities.

The tragedy also renewed scrutiny of safety compliance in Karachi’s commercial buildings. The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) cited fire-safety deficiencies across the city and issued hundreds of notices to commercial centres in the aftermath, and SBCA records showed building plan and safety violations at Gul Plaza.

The Sindh government subsequently said the case would be pursued through a judicial commission. Separate investigations and identification work continued alongside the inquiry, with Express Tribune reporting that police used geo-tagging and other corroboration to help identify victims, raising the number of identified victims to 69 by Jan 30.