Five shop owners move court to include terrorism, murder charges in Gul Plaza fire case

Five shop owners of the Gul Plaza mall have petitioned the court to record their statements and include murder and terrorism charges in the case. The petition was filed by Tanveer Pasta, Amar Ismail, Muhammad Ramazan, Muhammad Ameen and Naimatullah, the owner of an artificial flower shop, in front of Judicial Magistrate Aasim Aslam.

The shop owners had previously recorded their statements under Section 161 of the criminal procedure code, and now they seek to record them before the magistrate. The prosecution, however, opposes the plea to include charges of murder and terrorism, arguing that the incident should not be treated as similar to the Baldia Factory fire.

The Baldia Factory fire case involved a chemical report finding phosphorus and an alleged intention behind the incident, due to the factory owners not paying a ransom demanded by the accused. The prosecution maintains that the Gul Plaza fire was unintentional, stating that a teenage boy was playing with matchsticks that led to the fire.

Members of the Gul Plaza Management Committee and the mall's owner have objected to the plea for murder and terrorism charges. The court has adjourned the matter until October 7 for further hearing.