Prosecutors have returned the police investigation report in the Gul Plaza fire case for the second time, stating that the inquiry remains incomplete and fails to address key issues. The matter came up during a hearing at the City Court in Karachi, according to prosecution sources.
Shortcomings in the Report
The prosecution pointed out several shortcomings in the report, stating that police had not resolved the concerns raised when the original charge sheet was sent back. According to the sources, the District Investigation Officer (South) has called a meeting to review the case and discuss the deficiencies in the investigation.
The prosecution said the report does not include the findings of the judicial commission that investigated the fire. It also fails to explain why the building's emergency exits were locked, who blocked the evacuation routes, and how additional shops were allegedly created by subdividing existing commercial units.
Missing Investigative Steps
Sources further said investigators should have questioned officials from the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), and the fire brigade as part of the inquiry, but no such investigation was carried out.
According to the prosecution, the four-page charge sheet names six suspects, including an 11-year-old boy. The accused have been identified as Tanveer Pasta, Huzaifa, Ammar Ismail, Amin, Muhammad Ramzan and Naimatullah. The report also lists more than 60 witnesses.
Witness Testimonies
Prosecution sources said statements from four witnesses, including 11-year-old Huzaifa, have already been recorded before the court. During his testimony, Huzaifa allegedly admitted that he had been playing with matchsticks.
The charge sheet identifies Tanveer Pasta as the president of the market union, Ammar Ismail as vice president, Amin as general secretary, Muhammad Ramzan as joint secretary, and Naimatullah as the owner of the shop where the fire is believed to have started.
