Public anger boils over in Karachi following a horrific fire at Gul Plaza shopping complex that has killed at least 67 people, with another 77 still missing days later. Rescue efforts, now in their seventh day since the January 17 outbreak, reveal a scene of devastation and desperation.
Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori stepped up Friday, calling for a high-level judicial investigation by approaching the chief justices of the Supreme Court and Sindh High Court. Addressing reporters, he emphasized, ‘Responsibility must be fixed, and the guilty punished promptly.’ Tessori questioned the authorities’ crisis management, refusing to let officials off the hook.
The blaze originated in a store peddling synthetic flowers, where playing children likely sparked the disaster with matches or lighters. The fire consumed stockpiled materials before racing along electrical wiring, investigators say—not due to inherent electrical failure.
District South’s Deputy Commissioner Javed Nabi Khoso reported the rising fatalities and persistent missing persons count. Teams comb the collapsed structure, but grieving families are losing patience. Thursday saw women relatives converge at the site, venting frustration over the operation’s tardiness.
This plaza fire stands as Karachi’s most fatal in over a decade, spotlighting vulnerabilities in densely packed commercial spaces. From substandard fire suppression systems to ignored safety protocols, the tragedy demands systemic overhaul. With Tessori’s intervention, hope flickers for transparency and real change.