Heat rises at plaza probe as MQM-P cries foul

What unfolded before the judicial commission probing the Gul Plaza tragedy was not merely the story of a single building fire, but a wider indictment of Karachi's building regulation, emergency response and enforcement machinery. As officials from five departments and a journalist recorded statements, the commission rejected MQM-P's plea to become a party to the proceedings and adjourned the hearing until February 25.

The session of the Gul Plaza Judicial Commission began at the Sindh High Court under the chairmanship of Agha Faisal. SSP City Arif Aziz testified that heavy crowds gathered after the fire broke out and that people were restricted to designated areas. Initial information suggested children playing with matches may have sparked the blaze, he said, adding that flammable materials such as blankets, fabrics, flowers made of tissue and aerosol sprays were present in the basement.

Of the building's 17 gates, only four were open at the time. Aziz stated that the association managing the building was responsible for instructing watchmen to open gates during emergencies. Normally gates close at 10pm, though timings had been extended due to Ramazan or Eid. He conceded that there was no clear estimate of how many people were inside when the fire erupted.

Regarding CCTV footage, Aziz informed the commission that most DVRs had been destroyed in the fire, though one basement unit was recovered. The commission sought copies of the footage, particularly concerning reports that smoke spread before flames intensified, hampering evacuation.

SSP Traffic Ijaz Sheikh detailed logistical constraints, noting that the affected road measured between 12 and 15 feet wide and that ongoing Green Line works had narrowed access. With 5,200 personnel across Karachi, only limited staff were initially present nearby. He said heavy traffic was halted and routes cleared for fire brigade and water tankers, maintaining that no formal complaint was received about obstruction. When asked whether such a narrow access point was sufficient in an emergency, he replied that construction planning did not fall within his department's mandate.

Officials stated that Gul Plaza had four gas connections - two commercial, one industrial and one domestic. The industrial connection was reportedly used to run chillers but had been suspended since November. At the time of the fire, gas load-shedding was in effect. Justice Faisal observed that this may have inadvertently prevented a more catastrophic outcome.

Representatives of K-Electric reiterated that electricity was disconnected at 10:24pm upon request from building representatives to prevent further spread through live wiring.

Municipal Commissioner Samira Hussain explained the complex lease history of the land, tracing it back to allocations in the 19th century. She acknowledged that the Fire Department operates under the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation and admitted there is always room for improvement in training and equipment, alongside manpower shortages.

Farooq Sattar said the party had serious reservations about the manner in which the investigation was being conducted. "We demanded an inquiry, but we are not satisfied with how it is proceeding," he said, adding that financial compensation "cannot silence the issue." He argued that MQM-P had gathered documentary evidence relating to alleged construction irregularities, delays in firefighting response and what he termed administrative failures. He also questioned the status of past cases allegedly registered against officials over illegal constructions, asking what action had been taken.

The MQM-P leader reiterated his demand for a federal inquiry commission and criticised the Pakistan Peoples Party government in Sindh, alleging long-standing governance failures.

He pledged that his party would continue to pursue what he described as justice for the victims of Gul Plaza and an end to "anti-Karachi policies."