11-year-old to face trial in Karachi Gul Plaza fire that killed 72

KARACHI: An 11-year-old boy is set to be tried in connection with the devastating Gul Plaza Shopping Centre fire that killed 72 people, according to a charge sheet filed in court, Dawn reported.

The charge sheet, submitted by the investigating officer through in-charge district prosecutor Abdul Razzaq Gujjar on Saturday, names six accused in the case, including the minor boy Huzaifa, his father Naimatullah — owner of an artificial flower shop in the building — and four members of the Gul Plaza Management Committee.

The fire, which broke out on January 17, also left eight people injured and gutted more than 1,100 shops in the commercial complex, causing massive financial losses in one of Karachi’s busiest markets.

According to the investigation findings cited in the charge sheet, eyewitness accounts and statements recorded under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code suggest that the fire started after the 11-year-old boy was seen playing with matchsticks inside the shop. A witness, 13-year-old Aryan, reportedly stated before a judicial magistrate that he was present at the shop when Huzaifa was playing with matchsticks and the fire suddenly erupted.

The statement was reportedly supported by two other eyewitnesses, Mohammad Talha and Hamza Amir, who alleged that the boy’s father, Naimatullah, routinely allowed his underage son to remain in the shop unsupervised and operate the premises.

Committee responsible for negligence

Call data records (CDRs) cited in the charge sheet also suggest that Naimatullah was not present at the shop at the time of the incident.

The investigation further holds members of the Gul Plaza Management Committee responsible for negligence, stating that they failed to enforce safety regulations or restrict the underage operation of the shop. The charge sheet also alleges that basic fire safety measures were either missing or inadequate.

It noted that exit points of the building were locked or blocked, fire extinguishers were insufficient, no fire hydrant system was installed, and there was no emergency backup lighting. These lapses, the report said, worsened the impact of the blaze after electricity to the building was cut off, plunging the structure into darkness as the fire spread rapidly.

The document also claims that management committee members failed to promptly alert fire brigade or rescue services, and that their call data records show no immediate emergency response calls were made during the critical early phase of the incident.

The investigating officer has stated that since Huzaifa is a minor, proceedings against him will be conducted before a juvenile court.

Other accused in the case have been charged under sections of the Pakistan Penal Code including negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter, manslaughter, rash or negligent act causing hurt, mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy property, and common intention.

Earlier, prosecutors had returned the charge sheet on multiple occasions, pointing out procedural defects and directing the investigating officer to include the report of a judicial commission as well as findings of a joint investigation team formed by the Sindh government.

However, despite these objections, the investigating officer proceeded to file the charge sheet without incorporating the judicial commission report or JIT findings, the report added.