Accusing the government departments of non-cooperation and interference in his work, Investigation Officer (IO) in the Gul Plaza fire case DSP Amir Virk has prayed to the court to cancel the bails of suspects, including that of Tanveer Pasta, plaza’s union president, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
The IO made these revelations in a report submitted to Karachi’s city court on Wednesday.
The report stated that none of these departments either replied to his (IO) letters or gave names of the concerned officers, whose negligence or complicity led to the incident.
It was further stated in the report that the government departments’ officials did not even bother to fill the questionnaire.
DSP Virk had written letters to eight departments, including Sindh Building Control Authority, KMC and Rescue 1122, in connection with probe into the incident.
Two weeks ago, it was reported that an 11-year-old boy was set to be tried in connection with the tragedy in which 72 people had lost their lives.
The charge sheet, submitted by the investigating officer through in-charge district prosecutor Abdul Razzaq Gujjar, named six suspects in the case, including the minor boy Huzaifa, his father Naimatullah — owner of an artificial flower shop in the building — and four members of the Gul Plaza Management Committee.
The fire, which broke out on January 17, also left eight people injured and gutted more than 1,100 shops in the commercial complex.
According to the investigation findings cited in the charge sheet, eyewitness accounts and statements recorded under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code suggest that the fire started after the 11-year-old boy was seen playing with matchsticks inside the shop.
A witness, 13-year-old Aryan, reportedly stated before a judicial magistrate that he was present at the shop when Huzaifa was playing with matchsticks and the fire suddenly erupted.
Reporter: Jawad Asif