Families of Gul Plaza Tragedy Victims Meet Judicial Commission, Demand Justice

Karachi: Families of victims of the Gul Plaza fire tragedy met with the head of the judicial commission investigating the incident, urging authorities to deliver justice for their loved ones.

The commission, led by Justice Aga Faisal, expressed condolences and emphasized that the purpose of the investigation is to prevent similar incidents in the future. “Financial losses can be compensated, but the loss of life cannot,” he stated, requesting cooperation from the families to answer prepared questions either at the commission office or at the High Court. He also highlighted the need for statements from all affected families and access to information from rescue workers to compile comprehensive findings.

Family members recounted the harrowing circumstances of the fire. The mother of victim Abdul Hameed described how her son had called her around 10:30 PM, saying he was leaving, but later stayed behind to rescue a child. “We received his body in pieces,” she said.

The brother of victim Abdul Aziz said he arrived at the scene around 10:30 PM, observing only one fire brigade vehicle. “The rescue teams came late, and everything unfolded before our eyes,” he said, adding that while some claimed the doors of Gul Plaza were open, eyewitnesses reported they were closed.

Father of victim Arif, Hafeez, said dense smoke in the rear of the building prevented rescue teams from entering. “We were told people inside were shouting for help, but visibility was zero. If rescue operations had started at night, many lives could have been saved,” he said, explaining that DNA testing later confirmed his son’s identity.

The father of victim Haider Ali, Muhammad Hadi, also expressed doubts about the fire being accidental. “Such a massive fire cannot start on its own. We want only justice from the government,” he said, highlighting delays in the official response and discrepancies in the records of employees present.

The commission continues to gather statements and evidence to identify accountability and ensure measures are taken to prevent similar tragedies.