Gul Plaza fire FIR lodged one week after the incident

Authorities have registered a formal case in Nabi Bakhsh Police Station over the Gul Plaza fire incident, with the government taking the role of complainant, police sources confirmed on Saturday, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.  

The FIR includes clauses relating to negligence and carelessness, though no individuals have been held responsible yet, as the official investigation report has not been received. The case has therefore been registered against “unknown” persons.

Police sources said multiple factors worsened the situation during the incident, including power outages and several locked doors within the building, which hindered evacuation and rescue efforts.

After filing the FIR, the authorities sealed the Gul Plaza premises, pending further investigation. Investigators continue to examine the circumstances leading to the tragedy, while the public awaits clarity on accountability for the loss of lives.

At least 80 percent of the search and rescue operations have been completed, with debris from the demolished sections still being cleared.

The FIR has been registered against unknown persons, citing negligence and carelessness and has been sealed after registration. Investigators also recovered four DVRs from the site, which are being analyzed for evidence regarding the fire’s cause.

Valuables, including 1.5 kilograms of gold and over Rs100,000 in cash, were recovered and returned to their owners. Officials report that 10–11 people remain missing, while the total number of missing has been revised to 82 after accounting for duplications and safe returns.

Earlier, the death toll from Karachi’s Gul Plaza fire stood at 71, and 77 were still missing as rescue teams recovered additional human remains during ongoing search operation while the clean-up was near completion.

Deputy Commissioner South Javed Nabi Khoso on Saturday said that Gul Plaza has been 90 percent cleared, adding that the search operation is expected to be completed tonight.

He said that with the help of snorkels, rescue teams re-entered the upper floors of the fire-hit plaza. However, the search operation has not yet begun in the most sensitive part of the building.

According to Police surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed, 16 bodies have been identified so far. She said that due to severe burning of the bodies, the DNA identification process has become very complicated.

A spokesman of Rescue 1122 said that rescue personnel found Rs1,00,000 during a search operation, which was later handed over to its owner, setting an example of honesty.

On the other hand, the process of releasing compensation funds for the families of the deceased has been initiated, and the details of the families of eight victims have been completed.

The Deputy Commissioner South has forwarded the compensation cases to the Sindh government. The Sindh government has already announced compensation of Rs 10 million (one crore rupees) for each deceased person’s family.

Reporter; Usama Malik