Karachi: The inquiry commission established to investigate the Gul Plaza incident has issued a detailed 47-question questionnaire to the Director General of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), seeking written responses, and has also directed the authority to submit the complete record related to the building in question.
A meeting of the commission was held under the chairmanship of Justice Agha Faisal, during which various aspects of the Gul Plaza incident were reviewed. The commission formally handed over the questionnaire to the DG SBCA and emphasized that comprehensive and documented replies must be submitted. In addition, the SBCA has been instructed to provide the entire record concerning the construction, approvals, and other relevant matters of Gul Plaza to ensure clarity of facts.
During the proceedings, Justice Agha Faisal remarked that the SBCA often maintains that it cannot take action unless a complaint is received; however, another incident today has resulted in the loss of 15 lives, raising serious questions about institutional responsibility and effective oversight.
He further observed that the building had been constructed within a distance of 40 to 50 square yards, and permission for high-rise structures could also be granted within such limits. He added that it is likely that no complaint had been filed regarding this building either, which brings the monitoring mechanism under scrutiny.
The commission also questioned DC South Javed Khoso about who held operational command during the incident, and it was informed that no specific individual had formal command. Responding to the query, Javed Khoso stated that he was nearby when the fire broke out and was among the first to reach the site. He said that, in accordance with protocol, he immediately contacted the emergency department, while the SSP City also arrived at the scene without delay.
