Two senior Civil Defence officers dismissed over Gul Plaza fire

The Sindh Home Department has dismissed two senior Civil Defence officers over alleged negligence, misconduct and falsification of fire safety reports in connection with the Gul Plaza fire.

The dismissed officials are Additional Controller Fatima Memon and Senior Instructor Mirza Mursaleen Baig.

According to the Home Department's orders, both officials failed to ensure effective fire safety audits of Gul Plaza during 2024 and 2025 and to have identified safety deficiencies addressed.

The order stated that after the Gul Plaza fire on January 17, 2026, fire safety audit reports were allegedly prepared retrospectively. The Home Department declared the reports backdated and fabricated and took disciplinary action against the two officials.

Mirza Mursaleen Baig was issued a show-cause notice on June 19, 2026. His written response was deemed unsatisfactory, while he was also given an opportunity to defend himself and present evidence during a personal hearing, the order said.

The department concluded that the allegations of failing to conduct fire safety audits according to prescribed procedures and preparing backdated reports after the fire had been established, amounting to serious negligence, dereliction of duty and misconduct.

Fatima Memon, who was serving as Additional Controller (BS-17) at Civil Defence Karachi South, was also accused of repeatedly failing to ensure effective fire safety audits and rectification of safety deficiencies at Gul Plaza.