KARACHI: A court has reserved its order till Sept 18 on acceptance or rejection of a challan submitted in the Gul Plaza fire case on Wednesday.

At the outset of the hearing, defence counsel Shaikh Jawaid Mir raised concerns over the submission of the charge sheet by the investigation officer, in which he alleged that the government departments were given a clean chit, while the management of the building was mainly held responsible for criminal negligence.

Speaking to Dawn, counsel Jawaid said he had submitted before the court that the newly appointed IO had not conducted the investigation as had been directed by the court.

He also pointed out that he had earlier filed an application before the court requesting the formation of a joint investigation team (JIT), for which he had proposed the names of senior police officials.

Defence counsel raises concerns over ‘clean chit’ given to govt depts

On the other hand, the state prosecutor contended that Tanveer Pasta, the president of the building’s management, was responsible for “criminal negligence” as he did not contact the fire brigade or rescue service.

Instead, he called the electric supply company to disconnect the electricity.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the court fixed September 18 for passing an order on the charge sheet for accepting or rejecting it or nominating any other suspect in the case.

Earlier, the newly appointed IO had named the management of Gul Plaza and a shopkeeper and his underage son as accused and exonerated the Sindh Building Control Authority, Fire Brigade, Rescue 1122, Civil Defence and district administration from any negligence on their part in the charge sheet.

The IO has chargesheeted four members of Gul Plaza Management Committee — Tanveer Pasta, Amar Ismail, Muhammad Ramazan and Muhammad Ameen — and the owner of an artificial flower shop, Naimatullah, and his over 11-year-old son Huzaifa in the case.

The IO had listed 87 prosecution witnesses in the case and asserted that criminal negligence and carelessness were established against the persons named as accused in the investigation report and also incorporated Section 285 (negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Initially, the police had filed an investigation report/charge sheet in July listing the same set of persons as accused, but the court had rejected the same and ordered a thorough and satisfactory investigation through a Deputy Superintendent of Police.

Published in Dawn, September 10th, 2026