Court rejects plea to add murder, terrorism charges in Karachi's Gul Plaza fire case

KARACHI: A judicial magistrate dismissed an appeal seeking the inclusion of murder and terrorism charges in the Gul Plaza fire case on Wednesday, accepting the charge sheet filed by the police. The catastrophic blaze, which occurred on January 17 and took over two days to extinguish fully, resulted in at least 73 deaths and caused significant damage to more than 1,100 shops.

The magistrate, Aasim Aslam, ruled in favor of the final charge sheet presented by the second investigating officer, and rejected the application by five shop owners who sought additional charges of murder and terrorism. The police had initially named four members of the Gul Plaza management committee, a flower shop owner and his 11-year-old son as the accused, while clearing the Sindh Building Control Authority, Fire Brigade, Rescue 1122, Civil Defence, and district administration from any negligence.

The investigating officer listed 87 prosecution witnesses and charged the four management committee members and the shop owner and his son with offenses under various sections of the Pakistan Penal Code, including manslaughter, rash or negligent act, mischief by fire or explosive substance, mischief causing damage, and negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter.