KARACHI: A shopkeeper appearing as a witness in the Gul Plaza fire case has alleged that 12 of the shopping centre’s 13 gates were locked when he arrived at the scene, while blocked escape routes and the absence of emergency announcements hampered efforts to evacuate people during the deadly blaze.
Witness Arif recorded his statement before the city court, recounting the conditions he encountered when he reached Gul Plaza at around midnight. He said flames were already visible at 13 gates on the ground floor and the fire engulfed the entire building within approximately 30 minutes.
The witness also recalled seeing a person clinging to a window on the mezzanine floor, whom he believed had already died.
Arif said the circumstances surrounding the incident had raised suspicions in his mind that the fire might have been deliberately set.
Referring to the findings of an inquiry, he alleged that Gul Plaza Market Committee President Tanveer Pasta had failed to notify the fire brigade about the blaze.
He further claimed that no emergency announcement was made through the building’s public-address system despite the presence of speakers.
Citing video footage of the incident, Arif said people could be seen desperately searching for exits as escape routes remained obstructed and the lights were switched off.
The witness also accused Pasta of sealing access to the rooftop from the second floor. According to Arif, Pasta had established an office in the rooftop area, with scrap material placed near its entrance.
Questions raised over fire safety and maintenance funds
Arif told the court that 21 shops on the mezzanine floor, including his own office, had been destroyed in a separate fire in 2016.
Despite that incident, he alleged, Gul Plaza had not been equipped with adequate firefighting equipment or fire alarms to deal with emergencies.
The witness also questioned how the shopping centre’s maintenance funds were managed, stating that approximately Rs10 million was collected every month in maintenance charges from the building’s five floors.
He added that separate revenue was generated through billboard advertisements, mobile phone towers and parking contracts.
According to Arif, shop owners had repeatedly demanded an audit of the funds, but their requests had not resulted in an audit being conducted.
Shopkeepers allege they were excluded from relief
The witness said the fire had left all affected shop owners without their livelihoods.
He stated that the Sindh government had distributed approximately Rs8 billion in financial assistance through the Chamber of Commerce. However, he alleged that shopkeepers who appeared as witnesses in the case had not received any portion of the relief funds.
Arif further told the court that the assistance application form required verification by Tanveer Pasta.
He said the affected traders suspected that improper verification might have been used to divert millions of rupees in assistance.
The allegations were presented as part of the witness’s testimony in the ongoing Gul Plaza fire case.
