December 22, 2008	Monday	Zilhaj 23, 1429

RAWALPINDI, Dec 21: The death toll in the devastating Ghakhar Plaza fire rose to 12 on Sunday after seven bodies, including that of a fire-fighter, were found in the debris.

Besides, four people of the Rescue 1122 emergency service are missing.

Among the dead, eight are fire brigade personnel from the Pakistan Ordnance Factory in Wah.

The dead were identified as Nadeem Kiani, Sajjad Khurshid, Arshad Mehmood, Mohammad Sabir, Faisal Ghafoor, Naveed Ismail, Zahid Iqbal, Abid Ali, Mansoor Malik, Rizwanul Haq, Muhammad Waqas and Naeem Khan.

More than 60 people have been injured.

The fire, the exact cause of which is yet to be determined, erupted in the shopping plaza at 2.50am on Saturday and the building came crushing down in the afternoon.

A portion of the building was still smouldering on Sunday and fire-fighters were trying to put out the fire. Heavy equipment were being used to remove the debris.

Ambulances lined up on the Bank Road. Police have set up a ‘command post’ to provide information about the victims.

A team comprising a superintendent of police and a magistrate has been formed to determine the cause of the fire.