Sharjeel Memon says the Sindh High Court will be asked to appoint a sitting judge to review it and take a decision.
Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon addresses the press conference in Karachi. Photo: Express/File
The Sindh government on Thursday announced that the investigation into the Gul Plaza tragedy would be conducted by a judicial commission.
Addressing a press conference, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said the High Court would be asked to appoint a sitting judge to examine 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 the possibility of arson. “No one started the fire. The fire started because of an 11-year-old child,” he added.
Memon said that following the Gul Plaza incident, a special cabinet meeting was called during which a subcommittee was formed. He added that the chief minister had also constituted a separate inquiry committee, the report of which was now received.
“Today, important decisions were taken by the chief minister in the light of the committee report,” he said.
Providing more details, the minister said between 2,000 and 2,500 people were present at Gul Plaza when the fire broke out. Although many people were able to escape after the incident began, 80 people lost their lives.
He said a review of the cabinet subcommittee report found that the Ministry of Civil Defense had conducted several fire audits of the building since 2023, but had taken no subsequent action. He added that the district administration did not inform the government about this lacuna.
“As a result, the director and general director of civil protection have been suspended with immediate effect,” Memon said, adding that if anyone else was involved, they would also be punished.
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More to follow.
