04 December 2004	Saturday	21 Shawwal 1425

KARACHI, Dec 3: A major fire that erupted in the Mal Khana located on the premises of the city courts destroyed case properties and valuable record. The fire broke out at 2am on Friday morning and rapidly engulfed the entire building.

The Chief Fire Officer, Kazim Ali, told Dawn that as the fire spread, ammunition mainly comprising bullets dumped in the Mal Khana started to explode creating panic in the nearby residential complexes.

The property destroyed in the fire belonged to various cases, which were under trial in the city courts. These included arms and ammunition, explosive material, murder weapons, case files, narcotics and tear gas shells. Some motorcycles belonging to case property were also destroyed.

The SHO City Courts, told Dawn that the Mal Khana catered to the needs of all the five defunct districts of Karachi, adding that case properties belonging to the anti-terrorism courts (ATC) were also deposited at the Mal Khana.

Every night, the concerned staff deputed at the Mal Khana sealed the premises before going home and unsealed it every morning, he informed. "The room containing case properties of districts West and Central escaped the fire. Jewellery and cash stored in the room also remained safe," the SHO added.

"A KESC team on Friday carried out survey of the Mal Khana and gave their findings which suggest that the fire broke out due to short circuit in the old building," said the SHO City Courts, adding that the fire department would give their report on Saturday.