The family of a trader missing in the Gul Plaza fire faced another setback after burglars stole cash and gold jewellery from their house. The theft occurred while the family was searching for Asif, who has been unaccounted for since the massive blaze on January 17 at M.A. Jinnah Road, Karachi.
Relatives said they were repeatedly visiting the Deputy Commissioner’s Office and local mortuaries to trace the trader missing in the fire when unknown burglars broke into their home. The thieves fled with gold jewellery and cash, worsening the family’s distress.
The family reported the incident to Garden Police three days ago but said no action has been taken so far. They appealed to authorities for immediate intervention and enhanced security for families affected by the Gul Plaza tragedy.
Meanwhile, rescue operations at the fire-hit plaza continue. The blaze has claimed at least 71 lives, with several individuals still missing. Rescue teams, supported by civil authorities, the Army, and Rangers, are conducting search and clearance operations carefully due to structural instability in the building.
Rescue 1122 officials said more than 1.5 kilograms of gold was recovered from a jewellery shop in Gul Plaza. The gold, worth over Rs60 million, was intact despite being soaked in water during the fire. The recovered items were handed over to the plaza administration and returned to the shop owner.
Officials also reported recovering cash and parts of a DVR system from the building. The hard disk has been sent for forensic examination. A fresh search operation is ongoing in the basement to ensure no valuables or missing persons are overlooked.
Authorities continue to urge families of the trader missing and other victims to stay in touch with local offices while investigations into both the fire and the burglary proceed.
The incident highlights the compounded suffering faced by victims’ families and underscores the need for tighter security in fire-affected areas.
In other news read more about: Trader Disappears as 20kg Gold Worth Rs1b Goes Missing in Lahore’s Ichhra
