Karachi shopping centre fire: 11-year-old named accused in chargesheet over blaze that killed 72

An 11-year-old boy has been named as an accused in the chargesheet filed by Pakistani police over the deadly Gul Plaza shopping centre fire in Karachi that killed 72 people in January. The minor, along with his father and four members of the shopping complex’s management committee, will face trial in connection with one of Pakistan’s worst commercial building fires.The fire broke out at Gul Plaza, a shopping complex on Karachi’s MA Jinnah Road, on January 17. The blaze killed 72 people, injured eight others and destroyed 1,153 shops. Firefighters and rescue teams took nearly a week to completely extinguish the fire.According to the chargesheet filed in court on Saturday, the 11-year-old boy, identified as Huzaifa, was managing his father’s artificial flower shop in his absence when the fire allegedly started while he was playing with matchsticks.District Prosecutor Abdul Razzaq Gujjar said the boy would stand trial along with the other accused named in the chargesheet.The other accused include Huzaifa’s father, Naimatullah and Gul Plaza Management Committee members Tanveer Pasta, Amar Ismail, Muhammad Ramazan and Muhammad Ameen. All six accused have reportedly been absconding since the fire incident.The investigating officer has listed 42 prosecution witnesses in the case.According to the chargesheet, one of the key witnesses, a 13-year-old boy named Aryan, told a judicial magistrate that he was present at the shop when Huzaifa was playing with matchsticks and the fire suddenly broke out.The statement was reportedly corroborated by two other eyewitnesses, Mohammad Talha and Hamza Amir, who alleged that Huzaifa’s father regularly allowed his underage son to remain alone at the shop and manage its operations.Investigators also cited call data records showing that Naimatullah was not present at the shop when the fire started.The chargesheet further accused members of the Gul Plaza Management Committee of negligence, alleging they failed to enforce safety regulations or prevent the underage operation of the shop.According to the investigation, the building lacked adequate fire safety measures. The report said exit points were locked or blocked, there were insufficient fire extinguishers, no fire hydrant system had been installed and the building lacked emergency backup lighting.Investigators said these deficiencies worsened the disaster after electricity to the building was cut off, leaving the complex in darkness as the fire spread rapidly.The chargesheet also alleged that committee members failed to alert the fire brigade and rescue services promptly. Call data records reportedly showed that no immediate emergency calls were made during the crucial early stages of the fire.Authorities said the juvenile proceedings against Huzaifa will be conducted before a juvenile court in accordance with Pakistan’s legal provisions for minors.The remaining accused have been charged under various sections of the Pakistan Penal Code, including negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible material, manslaughter, causing hurt through rash or negligent acts, mischief by fire with intent to destroy property and common intention.The chargesheet was filed despite earlier objections from prosecutors, who had directed the investigating officer to include the findings of a judicial commission and a joint investigation team (JIT) set up by the Sindh government. According to local media reports, those findings have not yet been incorporated into the case record and are expected to be submitted separately.(with inputs from PTI)