Authorities to begin clearing phase as families await news of missing loved ones
Rescue workers sift through debris using excavators after a massive fire at a Karachi shopping mall. Photo: AFP
KARACHI:
The search operation in the fire-ravaged Gul Plaza building in Karachi entered its fifth day on Thursday. Rescue teams have searched around 70 percent of the section partially affected by the fire, recovering a total of 60 bodies so far.
Deputy Commissioner South visited the spot on Thursday morning to review the rescue operations. He explained that the first phase focused on areas of the building that had not collapsed and where the structure was still standing.
“So far, DNA samples from 50 bodies have been obtained, while some bodies were burned to such an extent that it became difficult to extract DNA from the bones,” he added.
The second phase of the rescue operation will focus on the collapsed debris, using heavy machinery. The deputy commissioner said extra caution would be required as locating human remains, identifying them and separating them from the rubble is a complex and sensitive process. Efforts will be made to carefully recover the bodies and return them to their families.
Read: Rescuers discover 30 bodies in a single store in Gul Plaza
Since the incident, the families of 80 missing people have filed reports with the administration.
On instructions from senior officials, police and Rangers barred social organizations, including Edhi and Chhipa Foundation, from entering Gul Plaza. The operation is now managed by Rescue 1122, run by the Sindh government, with other social groups and firefighters working under its supervision.
On Thursday, a group of more than 25 relatives, including women, attempted to enter the building but were stopped by authorities. The group raised slogans against the Pakistan People’s Party and in support of the MQM founder.
Meanwhile, the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) and the Engineering Board of Pakistan on Thursday visited Gul Plaza, where a technical committee declared the building unsafe and recommended that it be demolished after the rescue operation was completed.
SBCA technical committee member Arif Qasim said Gul Plaza covers an area of 8,124 square meters and includes 1,102 shops. He claimed that the entire square was destroyed after a fire broke out on Saturday evening, adding that adjacent squares were also inspected as part of the safety assessment.
Karachi Mayor visits families of Gul Plaza victims
Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab visited the homes of families affected by the Gul Plaza incident, expressing condolences and pledging support for their rehabilitation. He met the families of victims Rehman, Hisaam and Sarfraz, offering them his sympathy and expressing deep sadness over their loss. “In this difficult time, we stand alongside the families of the victims,” he said.
Wahab said the loss of life could not be compensated and promised to continue providing support until recovery efforts were completed. “There is no substitute for a human life. We will not rest until the victims are completely rehabilitated,” he said.
The mayor also announced measures to help restore the businesses of affected families, saying economic recovery was a priority alongside humanitarian aid.
“The Sindh government will not remain at peace until the victims are completely rehabilitated,” he said. He added that rescue operations were still underway at the site.
“Rescue personnel of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation are still engaged in the rescue operation,” he said.
Wahab said efforts were being made to ensure that the remains of the victims were returned to their families as soon as possible. “Our effort is to return the relatives of the victims to their families as soon as possible,” he said.
Tessori calls for lessons, not reproaches
Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori said tragedies such as the Gul Plaza incident must never be repeated, urging stakeholders to focus on unity rather than the blame game.
Speaking at a press conference at the Governor’s House on Thursday, he said the country needed collective support to move forward. “Instead of reopening old wounds and engaging in blame games, we should support each other and move forward,” he said.
He said Pakistan’s priorities should be centered on economic strength, education and security. “Our main slogan should be to make Pakistan economically strong, advance education and eliminate terrorism from the country. We must give education to children and employment to all,” Tessori said.
Addressing the business community, Tessori said the country’s leaders were actively working to stabilize the economy. “We want to convey to the trading community that the Prime Minister and the Marshal are fully playing their role in the economic strengthening of the country,” he said.
Calling for political consensus, he urged all stakeholders to agree on long-term economic policies. “It is essential that all political parties and the business world come together and sign an Economic Charter, guaranteeing the continuity and stability of economic policies,” he said.
