KARACHI – The Sindh government has constituted an inquiry commission to investigate the deadly fire at Gul Plaza in Karachi, officials said on Wednesday. Justice Agha Faisal has been appointed as the head of the commission, which will examine all aspects of the incident, Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar confirmed.
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The commission’s mandate includes probing the building’s construction approvals, the legal status of its lease, and any violations in building plans, particularly those affecting emergency exits. Officials said it will also assess firefighting arrangements, fire safety audits, and the speed and efficiency of the rescue operations carried out during the blaze.
Sindh govt notifies judicial commission to probe Gul Plaza infernohttps://t.co/wwQz6xnRJn#Sindh #gulplazafire pic.twitter.com/35C7yb3lh7
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“The commission will thoroughly investigate the cause of the fire, circumstances surrounding it, and the effectiveness of the emergency response,” the home minister said. He added that the inquiry report is expected to be submitted within eight weeks. The Commissioner of Karachi has been directed to provide secretariat support to the commission.
The Gul Plaza fire broke out on the night of January 17 at the commercial building located on M.A. Jinnah Road. The blaze trapped dozens of people and raged for over 32 hours before being brought under control. The incident claimed several lives and caused significant property losses, exposing weaknesses in Karachi’s emergency response system.
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The Sindh High Court had earlier ordered a judicial inquiry into the tragedy to ensure accountability. The provincial government vowed to leave no stone unturned in providing justice to the victims and their families.
Justice Faisal’s commission will play a critical role in identifying lapses and recommending measures to prevent similar disasters in the future.