KARACHI: The Gul Plaza Judicial Commission on Thursday summoned the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) municipal commissioner after the KMC’s Director Land (Lease), Syed Adnan Hyder Zaidi, failed to provide satisfactory answers regarding the legal status and lease of the ill-fated shopping mall.
The single-member commission, headed by Justice Agha Faisal of the Sindh High Court, also recorded statements from several officials, including Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) Director General Muzammil Hussain Halepoto, Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation CEO Ahmed Ali Siddiqui, Deputy Commissioner (South) Javed Nabi Khoso, and Police Surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed.
At the hearing, the SBCA chief detailed the building’s history, including initial plan approval in 1979, construction starting in 1986, lease expiry in 1983 and renewal in 1991, along with regularisation of unauthorised shops in 2003. However, he admitted that original documents regarding building violations were missing and only photocopies were available.
He said SBCA’s role ends after issuing completion certificates, and enforcement depends on complaints or recommendations from building inspectors. The commission also found no record of notices issued to Gul Plaza management regarding violations, citing staffing limitations at SBCA.
KWSC CEO Siddiqui testified that the nearest hydrant was 14 kilometres from the plaza, and water was supplied to fire tenders for six hours daily. DC (South) Khoso described the emergency response during the fire, while Dr Summaiya Syed reported that DNA samples were collected to identify human remains from the tragedy.
Gul Plaza Traders Association president Tanveer Pasta added that the plaza typically closed around 10:30–11:00pm, with gates shutting over 20–25 minutes, and that sub-lease records were not maintained by management.
The commission directed the provincial law officer to clarify the jurisdiction of Rescue 1122 and handed questionnaires to officials and witnesses to submit by the next hearing, adjourning the proceedings to Monday.