Prosecution returns challan in Gul Plaza fire case

KARACHI:

The prosecution department on Monday rejected the police challan in the Gul Plaza fire tragedy, terming the investigation "insufficient" and returning the charge sheet with multiple objections over glaring omissions in evidence collection.

According to prosecution sources, the challan submitted by police named Gul Plaza President Tanveer Pasta, Vice President Ammar Ismail, General Secretary Ameen, and Joint Secretary Muhammad Ramzan as responsible for the deadly blaze. Nematullah, the owner of the shop where the fire reportedly originated, was also named in the report.

However, prosecutors found the police probe riddled with shortcomings. The investigating officer has now been directed to attach the inquiry commission's report with the challan and include CCTV footage from buildings surrounding the plaza - material that police had failed to procure during their initial investigation.

"Police made no effort to trace eyewitnesses from areas around the flower shop," a prosecution source said, adding that no attempt was made to record statements from key witnesses who could have shed light on the incident.