Karachi, February 16, 2026 – Relatives of the victims of the Gul Plaza fire on M.A. Jinnah Road have raised serious concerns over the rescue operations during the deadly blaze. The fire completely destroyed the shopping mall building, claiming dozens of lives.
A judicial commission, led by Justice Agha Faisal, held a meeting at the office of the Deputy Commissioner South. Twenty-three relatives of 33 deceased recorded their statements for the inquiry.
Family members said that more lives could have been saved if heavy machinery from the Green Line project had been deployed. They also highlighted delays in firefighting. “The fire tanker arrived two hours late, and the building was already filled with smoke,” relatives said.
According to witnesses, trapped people were seen signaling with mobile phone lights from windows. The relatives claimed that the administration ignored repeated requests to break windows for evacuation.
Justice Agha Faisal instructed the families to complete questionnaires and submit them to the commission’s secretariat or the Deputy Commissioner South’s office.
The fire at Gul Plaza erupted on the night of Saturday, January 17. It raged for over 32 hours before being controlled. The prolonged blaze exposed gaps in Karachi’s emergency response system and fire safety protocols.
The Sindh government has officially notified the constitution of an inquiry commission to investigate the deadly incident. Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar said the commission will examine the construction approvals and legal status of the Gul Plaza lease.
“The commission will also investigate building plan violations and obstacles in emergency exits,” the minister added. Authorities will look into discrepancies in firefighting arrangements and prior fire safety audits.
In other news read more about Gul Plaza Tragedy: Judicial Commission Convenes To Discuss Terms of Reference
City officials said the inquiry aims to prevent similar tragedies in the future. The investigation is expected to provide clarity on accountability, building safety standards, and lapses in emergency management at Gul Plaza.
