Regent Plaza fire: Police register case against owners, management

E-Paper | April 30, 2026

Police on Thursday registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Regent Plaza hotel's owners and management, said SSP South Saqib Ismail Memon.

The case was registered after an inquiry report regarding the incident was completed and submitted to Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah.

The FIR was registered at Saddar police station citing criminal negligence, carelessness and not following the security plan in place for emergency situations.

The senior police official further stated in the inquiry report that the management of the hotel not only failed to follow the security plan, but also failed to inform emergency services in a timely manner.

At least 12 people were killed and 75 others injured when a huge fire erupted at Karachi's Regent Plaza hotel earlier this week.

The blaze broke out in the kitchen located at the ground floor of the four-star hotel located on the city's Shahrah-i-Faisal, and swept through the building, trapping scores of hotel guests in their rooms.

The firefighters were able to contain the blaze after three hours.

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Imtiaz Ali is a Karachi-based reporter for Dawn with over 25 years of experience in the field. His reporting portfolio encompasses crime, politics, and the provincial legislature, alongside coverage of the courts, government affairs, and the health sector.

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Shakeel Ahmad

Dec 08, 2016 11:10pm

Why can't the govt impose safety measure on all new constructions that will prevent future tragedies like this? All old buildings should be given a deadline to comply and then the govt should be sued and people should loose their jobs if the property owners do not comply.

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Syed

Dec 09, 2016 12:02am

Case Registration against owners / mgmt .... so what's going to happen to them ???

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khan saheb

Dec 09, 2016 01:33am

But why not against civil defence and all regulatory bodies who failed to monitor. CM Sind should be named in the FIR as he is responsible like the owners.

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Sami khan

Dec 09, 2016 02:01am

But, what about the government safety inspectors who issued the safety permit and approval to the hotel?

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Muhammad

Dec 09, 2016 02:16am

Shame on our system.Instead of registering criminal charges against the government officials of 24 departments of Sindh and Central governments who failed in their duties to avoid the accident,the best option they got to fix responsibilities on the management and owners of the hotel.Now there will be arm twisting and everyone will be free after payment to the Dons.Great service.

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J. Gamble

Dec 09, 2016 05:52am

Precious innocent lives lost for nothing. It is all back to business as usual.

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Hassan (Karachi)

Dec 09, 2016 11:32am

A complete investigation should take place, not only the hotel management but also all government institutions that allowed the hotel to stay open failing to meet safety protocol should be brought to task. How many places need to be burn before proper implementation of safety conditions. The Baldia Factory Fire/Arson case has yet to be concluded.

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SadFaces

Dec 09, 2016 03:20pm

The government organization and the business organizations who look into these matters should also be included in the FIR as well.

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