KARACHI – The Gul Plaza Judicial Commission, headed by Justice Agha Faisal, has issued formal notices to Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) officials and other relevant authorities following a series of alarming revelations by a rescue volunteer and a survivor.
The Volunteer’s Testimony: Lack of Equipment and Training
During the proceedings, rescue volunteer Danish provided a detailed account of the fire-fighting efforts, highlighting significant lapses in the official response. He testified that he assisted firefighters using two ladders but noted that the rescue operation was nearly impossible without gas masks, which no one possessed. Volunteers had to use wet clothes to breathe and navigate the toxic smoke. Furthermore, the volunteer stated that the fire department officials did not appear adequately trained and suggested that the situation could have been controlled much earlier with better initial efforts. He also mentioned that if the electricity had not been disconnected in time, more fatalities would have occurred; he personally rescued four to seven individuals from the upper floors.
Eyewitness Account
A citizen, Syed Abdullah, shared his ordeal, stating that he was trapped on the mezzanine floor as the fire intensified. He managed to escape by bending a metal grill and was eventually brought down via a private truck before losing consciousness. He noted that apart from ambulances, no organized rescue presence was visible at the scene initially.
Commission’s Action
Taking notice of the “serious allegations” leveled in the rescuer’s statement, the Judicial Commission has summoned responses from Director General (DG) Rescue 1122, the Municipal Commissioner (KMC), and the Chief Fire Officer. The Commission has directed these officials to submit their replies by February 27, noting that the testimony points toward systemic failures that require rigorous cross-examination.
