Karachi, January 28, 2026: The final investigation report into the deadly Gul Plaza fire, which claimed 79 lives, has been completed by a high-level committee comprising Karachi Commissioner Syed Hasan Naqvi and Additional Inspector General of Police Javed Alam Odho, officials confirmed on Wednesday.
The report, to be submitted to Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, details the cause of the fire, the response of firefighting and rescue services, and recorded statements from victims, eyewitnesses and emergency personnel.
According to the findings, the fire erupted at around 10:15pm in a flower shop located on the ground floor of the plaza, where children were reportedly present at the time. The blaze spread rapidly through air-conditioning ducts, with the majority of fatalities occurring on the mezzanine floor.
The first alert was received by the Fire Brigade at 10:26pm, while the first fire tender reached the site at 10:37pm. Deputy Commissioner South Javed Nabi Khoso arrived at the scene at 10:30pm, and Rescue 1122 teams reached the building at 10:53pm.
In parallel, a separate joint investigation is being conducted by the Sindh Police forensic unit in collaboration with Punjab’s Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Force. Experts are using advanced ARSEN technology to collect samples from parts of the building that were preserved after the fire to determine the exact point of origin, cause of ignition and reasons for the rapid spread of flames within the structure.
A technical team from Lahore also visited Gul Plaza to assist with investigations. Accompanied by police and district administration officials, forensic experts inspected various sections of the building. The urban search team marked areas where searches had been completed, while the letter “H” was placed at multiple locations to indicate danger and the risk of structural collapse.
Meanwhile, the tragedy has triggered fresh political tensions in Karachi. Wall chalking appeared across several neighbourhoods, including Liaquatabad, North Nazimabad and Haidery Market, calling for Karachi to be placed under federal or military control. Slogans such as “Karachi ko wafaq ke hawalay karo” (Hand Karachi over to the federation) and “Karachi ko fauj ke hawalay karo” (Hand Karachi over to the military) were reportedly written by unidentified individuals late Monday night and early Tuesday, with videos circulating widely on social media.
The developments come amid a sharp exchange of statements between the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in Sindh following the incident.
One survivor of the Gul Plaza fire, speaking to the media, expressed gratitude for surviving but questioned the lack of accountability in past tragedies. “I thank God I was lucky enough to escape the fire, but this is not the first time this has happened, Baldia factory fire, Bolton Market, Cooperative Market, RJ Mall,” she said.
She also raised concerns over governance and responsibility, asking who had been held accountable in previous disasters. “What will the federal government do if Karachi is handed over to them?” she asked, adding that the city and its residents have often been left to fend for themselves.
