A petition was filed in the Sindh High Court on Monday demanding criminal and departmental action over the Gul Plaza fire. The blaze, which erupted Saturday night, killed more than 20 people and left many missing. Petitioners blamed negligence, weak inspections, and failure to enforce fire safety laws for the tragedy.
Advocate Saleem Michael and Karachi resident Muhammad Haris filed the plea, representing affected citizens, shopkeepers, and victims. They named Sindh government officials, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, fire officers, and civil defense leaders as respondents. Petitioners argued the disaster resulted from clear violations of safety regulations and maladministration.
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The plea cited a December 2020 SHC order mandating fire safety measures, emergency helplines, inspections, and strict law enforcement. Petitioners said the directives were ignored, inspections remained sporadic, and task forces existed only on paper. They described the fire as a “living indictment” of official negligence and defiance.
Petitioners requested the court declare the fire a consequence of maladministration and seek criminal, departmental, and contempt proceedings. They also demanded suspension of negligent officers, independent technical inquiry, and compensation for victims’ families and affected traders. Additionally, they sought property attachment and safeguards against record destruction.
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The petition further urged strict enforcement of the Sindh Fire Safety Act 2016 and other building laws. Petitioners emphasized the need for compliance reports on Gul Plaza and preventive measures for commercial buildings across Karachi. The court will now review the plea and decide on the requested actions.