Sharjeel Memon says the Sindh High Court will be requested to appoint an acting judge to review and decide on it
Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon addresses the press conference in Karachi. Photo: Express/ File
The Sindh government announced on Thursday that the inquiry into the Gul Plaza tragedy would be conducted through a judicial commission.
Addressing a press conference, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said the high court would be asked to appoint an acting judge to review and decide the case.
The minister was flanked by Karachi police chief Azad Khan and commissioner Hassan Naqvi.
Briefing the media about the incident, Memon said initial findings had ruled out arson. “No one set the fire. The fire started because of an 11-year-old child,” he added.
Memon said that after the Gul Plaza incident, a special cabinet meeting was called where a sub-committee was formed. He added that the Prime Minister had also formed a separate inquiry committee whose report has now been received.
“Today, important decisions have been taken by the Chief Minister in the light of the committee’s report,” he said.
Giving further details, the minister said between 2,000 and 2,500 people were present in Gul Plaza at the time the fire broke out. While many were able to escape after the incident began, 80 people lost their lives.
He said a review of the Cabinet subcommittee report revealed that the Ministry of Civil Defense had carried out several fire audits of the building since 2023 but failed to take any subsequent action. He added that the district administration did not inform the government about this lapse.
“As a result, the Director and Director General of Civil Defense have been suspended with immediate effect,” Memon said, adding that if anyone else was found involved, they would also be punished.
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More to follow.
