Key revelations have emerged during the investigation into the Gul Plaza tragedy in Karachi, as police have not been able to obtain CCTV videos from the mezzanine, first, and second floors so far, which has added further complications to the inquiry process.
According to investigative sources, the inquiry committee has obtained CCTV footage covering the first 20 minutes of the fire. The available mezzanine-floor footage has been formally included as part of the case record and the ongoing inquiry to help establish the sequence of events and identify possible responsibility.
The report states that the fire broke out at around 10:15 pm. However, it has also been found that several shops remained open even about half an hour after the fire started. CCTV footage reportedly shows shopkeepers and customers still sitting inside shops until 11:00 pm, indicating that the severity of the threat may not have been fully realized at the time.
Investigators noted that when fire brigade and rescue teams arrived, they began spraying water instead of first focusing on evacuating people. While most individuals managed to get out, around 25 to 30 people stayed inside the Dubai Crockery Shop.
Sources said that shopkeepers at the Dubai Crockery Shop allegedly stopped people from leaving and told them the fire would be extinguished, advising them not to go anywhere. A shopkeeper involved in rescue efforts said he guided nearly 150 customers to safety and urged those inside the Dubai Crockery Shop to move out, but they were stopped by the shopkeepers.
According to the investigation report, the remains of those roughly 30 individuals were later found inside the Dubai Crockery Shop, further deepening the tragedy. The inquiry committee continues to examine the available evidence while efforts are ongoing to obtain the complete CCTV record.
