KARACHI – Rescue workers unearthed more heartbreak from the smoldering ruins of Gul Plaza, pushing the confirmed death toll from a massive January 17 fire to 67. Shockingly, 77 souls are yet to be found, as operations enter a critical phase amid widespread condemnation.
In a bold move, Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori announced plans to petition the Supreme Court and Sindh High Court for a judicial inquiry. ‘We need to pinpoint the culprits and ensure they face justice without further ado,’ he told journalists Friday, while lambasting the administration’s response to the crisis.
Details emerging paint a heartrending picture: the fire ignited in an artificial flowers outlet during children’s playtime. Matches or lighters reportedly started the blaze on stored items, which then leaped to wiring—dismissed as the root cause by probes.
Deputy Commissioner Javed Nabi Khoso of District South provided the latest stats, with search missions unrelenting. The slow grind drew sharp protests from missing persons’ female kin, who rallied near the plaza Thursday in a show of raw emotion.
Labelled Karachi’s grimmest fire in 12 years, the event lays bare deep-seated safety flaws across Pakistan’s commercial hubs. Governor Tessori’s call to action resonates as families plead for closure. This disaster could catalyze urgent reforms, but only if leaders follow through decisively.