KARACHI: After days of mounting pressure and public outrage, the Sindh government on Thursday announced the formation of a judicial commission headed by a serving high court judge to probe into the deadly Gul Plaza fire, even as it rejected the allegation of negligence on its part.

Addressing a press conference, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon announced the government decision after hours-long meeting at CM House where the committee under Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah finally decided to go for the judicial inquiry into the incident that claimed dozens of precious human lives and caused massive financial losses.

The senior minister said the government was not engaging in a ‘blame game’ and insisted that “no lapse had occurred at the official level”, though responsibility would be accepted if any shortcomings were established.

He urged critics to wait for the findings of the judicial commission, which would examine the cause of the blaze and fix responsibility.

Sharjeel insists no lapse occurred at official level, but CM has decided to hold judicial probe

“There was no negligence on the part of the government, but if there were any shortcomings, we are prepared to take responsibility,” he said.

“The commissioner’s report has already been released and we should wait for the judicial commission’s report as well. If any institution is found at fault, it will come to light. Those who illegally granted leases and traded people’s lives for personal gains will also be exposed. Let the court decide.”

Despite criticism from the opposition parties, Mr Memon backed the findings of a two-member committee comprising Karachi Commissioner Hasan Naqvi and city police chief Azad Khan tasked with investigating the Gul Plaza inferno.

“Their findings say that a minor boy lit a match while playing inside a shop and threw it without putting it out due to which the shop caught fire which then spread to the entire Gul Plaza,” he said.

He also shared a few decisions which were taken after the report came to light.

Like the one about the Civil Defence department fire safety audits of Gul Plaza and other buildings in 2023 which showed that “no effective, corrective, precautionary or legal action was enforced to prevent such incidents of such nature”.

“The Civil Defence director and its South district additional controller did not bring the matter to authorities, nor did they take any appropriate action against violators,” he said.

“The Gul Plaza’s management had received notices twice after fire safety audits, informing them that they did not have adequate safety arrangements in place in case of an emergency. Hence, both the Civil Defence officials were suspended immediately as they were unable to implement either of the letters.”

The cabinet sub-committee, the minister said, also noted that there was a “delay in the supply of water to fire tenders”, affecting the operations of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation’s (KMC) fire brigade and Rescue 1122.

“Therefore, it was decided to suspend the chief engineer (bulk) and the hydrants’ in-charge of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC),” he added.

“Departmental action will be initiated against them. The action would also be taken if negligence or failure of any senior officer or authority is found. As you all know that KMC Municipal Commissioner Afzal Zaidi was removed from his post on the first day [of the incident].”

The minister said that the committee also found that KMC Fire Brigade and Rescue 1122’s equipment, training and capabilities to deal with an incident of this nature were insufficient. However, Mr Memon said, KMC firefighters acted with courage despite severe equipment shortages and difficulties, noting that firefighter Furqan Shaukat lost his life in the operation.

The minister further announced that the KMC municipal service senior director will also be immediately suspended and departmental action will be taken against him for “failing to ensure the preparation of firefighting staff”.

Request to SHC for a judge

Meanwhile, the Sindh government has formally requested the Sindh High Court to nominate a sitting judge to conduct a judicial inquiry into the deadly Gul Plaza Shopping Centre fire, citing the need for transparency, accountability and institutional learning.

According to a letter from CM House to the registrar of the Sindh High Court, a cabinet sub-committee headed by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah reviewed the matter during its meeting held on Thursday (Jan 29). 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 stated.

The correspondence added 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.

“It is, therefore, requested that the matter may be placed before the Honourable Chief Justice of Sindh to nominate a sitting judge of the High Court of Sindh for conducting judicial inquiry into the fire incident of Gul Plaza Shopping Centre, Karachi,” the letter said.

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

Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2026