Fire report sparks fresh criticism

Inquiry identifies origin of fire but ignores alleged negligence

ISLAMABAD:

An inquiry committee constituted to investigate the recent fire at the H-9 market in the federal capital has come under criticism for allegedly failing to identify those responsible for the incident, while deferring the determination of its actual cause to a pending forensic investigation.

Sources told The Express Tribune that although the committee had completed and submitted its inquiry report, it failed to address the key questions surrounding the blaze. Instead of fixing responsibility or establishing the precise cause of the fire, the report reportedly placed the matter in the hands of the forensic team, a move critics described as an attempt to avoid accountability.

According to sources, the report confirmed that the fire originated at stalls C-432 and C-433 at around 9.45pm. It also acknowledged that the designated fire tender was not on duty at the time because it had been dispatched to refill its water tank. In addition, the committee noted that several vendors had been using their stalls as storage facilities, increasing the fire risk.

However, the report reportedly stopped short of identifying the officials responsible for the apparent lapses. It did not explain why the market's emergency response remained ineffective despite only three fire safety training exercises having been conducted over the past three years, nor did it examine why adequate preventive measures had not been introduced after two previous major fires at the same market during that period.

Sources further alleged that the committee largely blamed vendors for unauthorised subletting of stalls and the storage of excess combustible materials, but failed to examine the role of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the market administration in allowing such violations to continue unchecked. It also did not explain why a comprehensive fire safety audit had not been undertaken despite the market having experienced two earlier fire incidents in recent years.

The report concluded by stating that the exact cause of the fire would be determined by the forensic team, effectively leaving the central question unanswered. According to sources, the committee's recommendations focused primarily on future preventive measures rather than fixing responsibility for the incident.

Among its recommendations, the committee proposed banning the overnight storage of goods inside stalls, prohibiting the use of tarpaulin sheets and ending the practice of subletting stalls. However, it did not clarify why these alleged violations had not been addressed previously or identify the officials responsible for enforcing market regulations.

Meanwhile, the inquiry report released by the district administration stated that the fire initially broke out at stalls C-432 and C-433. During the investigation, statements were recorded from security personnel and several shopkeepers.

According to the report, an initial attempt was made to extinguish the blaze through self-help efforts immediately after it erupted at 9.45pm. The Fire and Rescue Service was alerted at 9.51pm, while the first fire engine arrived at the market at 10.02pm. The first government officer to reach the scene was the Assistant Commissioner of I-9, who arrived at 9.57pm. The blaze was brought under control at 1:20am.

The rescue operation involved teams from the Capital Emergency Services and Rescue 1122 Rawalpindi, while fire tenders from the Jinnah Convention Centre and water bowsers from Naval Headquarters also participated in the firefighting operation.

Despite detailing the sequence of events, the report has prompted criticism for failing to establish accountability for what was the third major fire at H-9 Bazaar in the past three years, leaving the crucial question of responsibility unresolved pending the outcome of the forensic investigation.