KARACHI: A local court on Monday granted protective bail to the individuals named in the Gul Plaza fire case, directing the adult accused to furnish surety bonds of Rs500,000 each.
Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Aslam Shaikh issued the order while hearing the bail applications. The court also granted protective bail to 11-year-old Huzaifa, requiring him to submit a surety bond of Rs10,000.
During the hearing, counsel for the petitioners argued that those seeking bail had themselves suffered severe losses in the devastating blaze and were struggling to arrange the required surety amount.
Among those granted relief are Gul Plaza Market Committee President Tanveer Pasta, Vice President Ammar Ismail, General Secretary Muhammad Ameen, Joint Secretary Muhammad Ramzan, along with shopkeeper Naimatullah and his son Huzaifa, who have been named in the police charge sheet.
Separately, the Gul Plaza Traders’ Union has challenged the police investigation, alleging serious flaws in the inquiry and demanding an independent probe involving both police and national security agencies.
The union maintains that the January 17 fire, which burned for more than 32 hours and claimed 72 lives, was the result of negligence by government departments rather than the victims or traders.
According to the petition, investigators unfairly treated victims as suspects and even included an 11-year-old child among the accused. The petitioners have asked the court to review the investigation and ensure a transparent determination of responsibility.
Police have already submitted the charge sheet to the prosecution. According to sources, however, the findings of the Gul Plaza Judicial Commission were not incorporated into the report.
The investigation concluded that the fire was accidental, a finding supported by forensic experts. A report by the Punjab Forensic Science Laboratory found no traces of explosive material, ruling out an explosion as the cause of the blaze. Four eyewitnesses have also recorded statements under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code, while the remains of four victims are yet to be claimed.
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