Police charge five including Tanveer Pasta over Gul Plaza fire

Karachi Police have prepared and submitted a charge sheet in connection with the tragic Gul Plaza fire incident, holding five individuals, including office-bearers of the market union, responsible for the disaster.

However, the prosecution has returned the charge sheet with objections, describing the investigation as incomplete and inadequate.

According to the charge sheet submitted by the police, the individuals identified as primarily responsible for the incident are Gul Plaza Union President Tanveer Pasta, Vice President Huzaifa Ammar Ismail, General Secretary Amin, Joint Secretary Muhammad Ramzan, and Naimatullah, the owner of the shop where the fire reportedly originated.

The police submitted a four-page principal charge sheet along with hundreds of supporting documents related to the case.

Prosecution sources, however, maintain that the investigation remains deficient. Objections have been raised to the charge sheet, and the prosecution has directed investigators to include the detailed report of the Inquiry Commission as part of the case record.

In addition, authorities have been instructed to obtain and incorporate CCTV footage from cameras installed around Gul Plaza into the official record.

Sources further stated that the prosecution also noted that police failed to make any serious effort to identify and record statements from eyewitnesses present near the affected shop at the time of the incident.

The prosecution has therefore instructed investigators to address these shortcomings and resubmit the charge sheet.