Gul Plaza charge sheet rejected yet again

The investigation into the devastating Gul Plaza fire case has hit another dead end, with the prosecution department returning the police charge sheet for the second time, branding it "incomplete" and "defective", and raising serious questions over the role of the investigating officer (IO).

Official sources within the prosecution told reporters on Friday that the IO not only failed to remove the deficiencies pointed out earlier but also repeated the same mistakes in the revised challan.

The charge sheet, they said, neither includes the crucial report of the judicial commission formed to probe the tragedy, nor does it touch upon key aspects such as the blocking of emergency exits, illegal construction of multiple shops, or the possible negligence of civic agencies.

"This is sheer negligence," a senior prosecution official said on condition of anonymity. "We had clearly instructed the IO to attach the judicial commission report and probe the role of all relevant departments. None of that has been done."

The prosecution has now returned the challan, leaving police high-ups red-faced. Senior police officers have called an emergency meeting to review the situation and decide the next course of action, sources added.

According to prosecution sources, the IO was specifically directed to investigate: 1) Why the building's emergency gates were sealed - and who ordered them blocked; 2) How one shop was converted into two or three commercial units in violation of building bylaws; 3) The involvement of the SBCA, KDA, KMC, and the Fire Brigade in granting approvals or failing to enforce safety measures.