Karachi mall fire: Rights body alleges ‘administrative failures’, questions govt’s silence

Islamabad, July 2 (IANS) The Human Rights Council (HRC) of Pakistan alleged that the Gul Plaza fire incident in Karachi was the result of severe “administrative failures”, accusing the authorities of negligence while expressing concern over the Sindh government’s silence on the incident.

Addressing a press conference on the Gul Plaza tragedy, HRC Chairman Jamshed Hussain said the devastating fire that occurred on January 17 this year was not merely an accident but the outcome of “serious administrative failures” within the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), deficiencies in the firefighting system, alleged flawed oversight mechanisms of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), and negligence and mismanagement by the officials concerned.

He added that the silence of the Sindh government over the matter is equally troubling.

According to the rights body, 71 people lost their lives, 82 others were injured, and more than 20 people were reported missing in the fire incident. It added that most of the victims died due to suffocation caused by smoke.

Hussain said that the “number of shops in Gul Plaza was limited according to the construction approval”; however, “sources indicate that the number of shops was increased, which affected the emergency evacuation routes”.

He further said that it was the “responsibility of the relevant authorities to periodically inspect commercial buildings and ensure safety measures,” alleging that negligence in this regard contributed to the major fire tragedy.

Citing the Commission of Inquiry report, the HRC said that the “fire started from one shop; however, basic fire safety arrangements in the building, including the sprinkler system, fire hoses, smoke alarms, and emergency lighting, were either absent or non-functional.”

“Narrow corridors, poor ventilation, and illegal modifications severely hampered the rescue operation, for which the responsibility lies with the relevant authorities,” it further stated.

The rights body noted that the investigation also revealed that the firefighting staff “lacked the required safety equipment and adequate training to handle emergencies, which affected timely rescue operations”.

Raising questions over the appointment, qualifications, and administrative decisions of Chief Fire Officer of KMC, Muhammad Humayun Khan, the HRC demanded transparent and impartial investigations into the matter.

It also called for the immediate removal of Humayun Khan from office while subjecting him to a transparent investigation.

The rights body called on the Pakistani authorities to register cases against all those responsible for the Gul Plaza tragedy, including relevant government officers, in accordance with the law.

It further urged the establishment of an independent judicial commission to conduct a complete investigation of the tragic fire incident.

–IANS

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