Sindh High Court Orders Gul Plaza Fire Inquiry Led by Justice Agha Faisal
Sindh High Court has launched the Gul Plaza Fire Inquiry after the deadly blaze in Karachi. The fire killed at least 73 people and left hundreds of families grieving. Therefore, citizens across Sindh now demand answers and accountability.
Justice Agha Faisal Leads Probe
Chief Justice Zafar Ahmed Rajput nominated Justice Agha Faisal to head the investigation. The Sindh government requested this judicial step soon after the tragedy. In addition, officials want the inquiry to identify the real cause of the fire. The court followed Section 3 of the Sindh Tribunals of Inquiry Ordinance, 1969. However, the SHC earlier rejected a similar request from Governor Kamran Tessori. Judges said the governor failed to meet legal requirements.
Sindh authorities asked the commission to examine responsibility and failures in oversight. As a result, the inquiry will review safety measures, emergency response, and possible negligence. People hope the findings will prevent such disasters in the future.
Government Action and Public Pressure
The Sindh cabinet subcommittee reviewed an initial report about the incident. They agreed that an independent judicial probe remained necessary. Meanwhile, major opposition parties strongly rejected the government’s early findings. Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon denied acting under political pressure. Instead, he said the government wanted transparency for everyone affected. He also promised strict action against those responsible. After its own investigation, Sindh suspended several officials. These included engineers from KWSC and senior officers from KMC. Moreover, Civil Defence leadership also faced departmental proceedings.
Memon highlighted delays in water supply to fire tenders. Consequently, rescue efforts suffered during critical hours. Fire brigade teams and Rescue 1122 struggled due to shortages. Police registered an FIR on January 23. They described the fire as the outcome of negligence and carelessness. For example, investigators suspect failures in safety systems and management. Now, the Gul Plaza Fire Inquiry aims to deliver justice, rebuild trust, and ensure safer buildings for all.
