RAWALPINDI, Dec 28: Demolition of what remains of the gutted Gakhar Plaza on the Bank Road began on Sunday, not by its owner or any government authority but by a renowned private construction company which considered the incident a national tragedy.

The company’s managing director, Mahmoodul Haque Alvi, told reporters that the demolition of the plaza would be completed within a week. However, the company would not lift the rubble as it was the responsibility of the owner.

Mr Alvi said his company had come forward voluntarily and had deployed five heavy machines for the safe demolition of the building. He was of the view that no organisation in Pakistan had the advance blasting technology to demolish such a huge structure.

The company having experience in the field of construction for the past three decades started the demolition in parts to ensure safety of nearby shops, business centres and the adjoining Cantonment General Hospital.

Mr Alvi said after the foremost task of recovering dead bodies from the rubble and demolition of the remaining building, the company would accomplish its work. Before and during the demolition work, the company sacrificed 10 goats as Sadqa for the safety of its workers involved in the operation.

When contacted, Gakhar Plaza owner Raja Shahid Zafar told Dawn that the private company came forward to demolish the remaining plaza with his willingness, as he was looking for such companies to help him in this task.

Meanwhile, representatives of different religious and political parties, organisations and bereaved families gave an ultimatum to authorities to complete the recovery of dead bodies from the rubble by next Friday, and in case of failure, they would hold a protest rally.

Jamaat-i-Islami organised a protest meeting at the ruins of Gakhar Plaza on Sunday.

The meeting, which was addressed by local JI leaders and various organizations, regretted that dead bodies could not be recovered after the passage of nine days of the tragedy. Local leadership of PPP and trade organisations also addressed the meeting.

“The entire responsibility would be on the administration if the dead bodies were not recovered by coming Friday,” speakers threatened.