A local court in Karachi on Monday granted protective bail to the accused nominated in the Gul Plaza fire case and directed them to submit surety bonds before the trial court. Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Aslam Shaikh approved the protective bail petitions and ordered the accused to furnish surety bonds of Rs500,000 each. The court directed 11-year-old Huzaifa to submit a surety bond of Rs10,000.
Arguments During Hearing
During the hearing, counsel for the petitioners argued that the accused had suffered devastating losses in the fire and were unable to arrange large amounts for bail. Those granted protective bail include Gul Plaza Market Committee President Tanveer Pasta, Vice President Ammar Ismail, General Secretary Muhammad Ameen, Joint Secretary Muhammad Ramzan, shopkeeper Naimatullah, and his 11-year-old son Huzaifa, all of whom have been named in the police charge sheet.
Background of the Case
The development comes after the Gul Plaza Traders’ Union challenged the police investigation into the deadly blaze, alleging that the inquiry had been mishandled and demanding an independent investigation involving law enforcement and security agencies. The petitioners contended that the investigation had treated victims as suspects and objected to the inclusion of an 11-year-old child among the accused. They sought a review of the investigation and a transparent determination of responsibility for the tragedy.
Charge Sheet and Investigation
Meanwhile, Karachi police have submitted the charge sheet in the case to the prosecution. According to the investigation report, the fire was accidental, a conclusion supported by a forensic report from the Punjab Forensic Science Laboratory, which found no evidence of explosive material. The report names shopkeeper Naimatullah as the principal accused along with his son Huzaifa. It states that the January 17 fire claimed 72 lives, while the remains of four victims are yet to be claimed. Investigators also recorded statements from four eyewitnesses under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
Impact of the Fire
The Gul Plaza fire raged for more than 32 hours before being brought under control, causing one of Karachi's deadliest commercial building disasters in recent years.
