Gul Plaza fire: Karachi court rejects police's investigation report

A Karachi court on Thursday rejected the police investigation report in the Gul Plaza fire case, ruling that the probe failed to determine whether criminal negligence by government authorities contributed to the deadly blaze that claimed more than 70 lives.

Judicial Magistrate (South) Asim Aslam passed the order after hearing the police challan and an application filed by the accused.

In a written order, the court observed that the investigating officer had failed not only to examine the alleged criminal negligence of relevant government departments but also to identify violations of fire and building safety regulations at Gul Plaza.

The magistrate noted that although the investigating officer had orally informed the court that the commissioner's inquiry report was not part of the police record, the report was, in fact, included in the case file.

The court observed that more than 70 people had lost their lives due to what could amount to criminal negligence, making it imperative to identify those responsible.

The order further noted that the public prosecutor had twice pointed out deficiencies in the police challan and returned it for correction, but the investigating officer failed to rectify the shortcomings.

Stating that the court was not bound to accept a defective police investigation, the magistrate ordered further investigation into the case.

The court directed the SSP Investigation (South) to appoint a police officer not below the rank of DSP to conduct a fresh probe. The officer has been tasked with examining the role of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), including how the number of shops in Gul Plaza allegedly increased from the approved 1,102 to 1,153, and obtaining the fire safety inspection record from the Civil Defence Department.