Gul Plaza Tragedy: Police Register FIR as Death Toll Hits 71; Building to be Demolished

KARACHI — In a major legal development following Karachi’s deadliest commercial fire in decades, the Nabi Bux police on Saturday registered a First Information Report (FIR) over the Gul Plaza inferno. Describing the disaster as an “outcome of negligence and carelessness,” the police confirmed that the death toll has officially reached 71, with search operations now entering their final phase.

The Gul Plaza Fire Case

• Confirmed Deaths: 71 (including 1 firefighter).
• Missing Persons: Approximately 77 still reported missing; DNA testing underway.
• FIR Status: Registered against “unknown persons” under Sections 322, 337-H(i), 436, and 427 of the PPC.
• Building Status: Declared structurally unsafe; scheduled for demolition and reconstruction.
• Financial Aid: Rs. 10 million for families of the deceased; Rs. 500,000 per shop for traders.

The Police FIR Claims Negligence & Lack of Exits 

The FIR, registered on behalf of the state through SHO Inspector Nawaz Ali Zardari, paints a damning picture of the shopping mall’s safety standards. According to the document, the fire erupted at approximately 10:14 PM on January 17 in Shop No. 193 (a flower and gift shop) before spreading rapidly via the building’s ducts.

The police have formally blamed a total lack of firefighting equipment and the absence of emergency exits for the high casualty count. The FIR further notes that the decision to switch off electricity during the blaze complicated evacuation efforts, trapping dozens inside the smoke-filled mezzanine and upper floors.

Demolition and a Two-Year Rebuilding Plan

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, addressing the Provincial Assembly, confirmed that the ground-plus-three-storey structure is beyond repair and will be demolished. The Sindh government has pledged to reconstruct Gul Plaza within two years.

Importantly, the CM assured traders that the new building will follow the original approved plans from 2003, ensuring that every shopkeeper receives an area equal to their previous shop. “Not a single shop will be added or reduced,” he emphasized, aiming to protect the rights of the 1,102 registered shopkeepers.

Massive Relief Package for Affected Traders

To prevent a total economic collapse for the city’s small business owners, the provincial government has announced several “immediate” measures:

• Temporary Shops: Within two months, 850 alternative shops will be provided in two nearby buildings, with rent waived for the first year.
• Interest-Free Loans: Affected traders can access loans of up to Rs. 10 million through the Sindh Enterprise Development Fund, with the government acting as the guarantor.
• Subsistence Grant: A one-time payment of Rs. 500,000 per shop has been approved for immediate sustenance.

Accountability and Mandatory Insurance

The Chief Minister has directed the provincial law minister to draft legislation making insurance mandatory for all commercial buildings in Sindh. A city-wide safety audit is also underway, with non-compliant buildings facing immediate sealing if they fail to rectify fire safety lapses within a “brief period.”

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