KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday asked the Sindh government to provide terms of reference (ToR) before it could consider nominating a sitting judge to conduct a judicial inquiry into the Gul Plaza fire.

On Thursday, the provincial government wrote to SHC Chief Justice Zafar Ahmed Rajput, requesting him to nominate a sitting judge to lead an inquiry into the blaze to ascertain responsibility and identify regulatory lapses.

In reply to the request, the SHC’s registrar has now asked the Sindh government through the Home Department secretary for the ToR of such a commission.

“With reference to your above letter on the subject captioned, I am to state that, having perused the same, the Hon’ble Chief Justice has been pleased to order that, in the first instance, the term of reference be called from the provincial government for the constitution of the commission. You are, therefore, requested to furnish the terms of reference for the kind perusal of his lordship,” the registrar wrote.

Turns down governor’s request for judicial commission on blaze

Earlier, the provincial government said in its letter that a cabinet subcommittee headed by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah had reviewed the matter during its meeting held on Thursday and the committee discussed the circumstances surrounding the fire incident at Gul Plaza and agreed that an independent judicial probe was necessary.

“In order to ensure transparency, accountability and institutional learning, the sub-committee decided that the Honourable Chief Justice of the High Court of Sindh may be requested to nominate a sitting judge of the high court to conduct a judicial inquiry into the Gul Plaza fire incident to ascertain responsibility and regulatory lapses,” the letter added.

The correspondence also stated that the inquiry would focus on fixing responsibility and examining any failures in regulatory oversight linked to the incident, which claimed multiple lives and caused extensive damage to the commercial building.

The Chief Minister House also urged the registrar to process the request promptly, stating that “an early response is solicited”.

Meanwhile, the SHC has turned down Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori’s request to constitute a judicial commission to probe the incident.

On Jan 27, the governor, through his principal secretary, wrote a letter to the SHC chief justice seeking the constitution of a judicial inquiry commission in relation to the blaze.

In reply, the Sindh High Court registrar said the chief justice had noted that the procedure for a formal inquiry of public concern was to be initiated by the government under Section 3 of the Pakistan Commissions of Inquiry Act, 2017.

The registrar added that consultation with the head of an institution arose where an inquiry was to be conducted by a member of that institution, citing the Supreme Court’s judgement in Abid Shahid Zuberi versus Federation (PLD 2023 SC 493).

“Accordingly, the entreaty made in the subject letter cannot be approved until the procedure enunciated in the above-quoted statute and cited case law is not followed in the letter and spirit,” the reply concluded.

Published in Dawn, January 31st, 2026