ISLAMABAD: Police in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi have registered a case over a deadly blaze at Gul Plaza, which has so far claimed 71 lives, under mischief, negligence and murder clauses, a senior police official said on Saturday.

The fire broke out at the densely packed commercial complex in the heart of Karachi on Jan. 17, trapping workers and shoppers inside. It burnt for over 24 hours before being brought under control, leaving the building structurally unsafe.

Authorities have not yet confirmed the cause of the fire. Police said preliminary indications pointed to a possible electrical short circuit, though officials stress conclusions will only be drawn after investigations are completed.

A week after the incident, police have registered the first information report (FIR) of the incident under sections 427, 436, 337-H (i) and 322 of the Pakistan Penal Code, according to Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Karachi South Asad Raza.

“The FIR of the Gul Plaza tragedy has been registered under the government’s prosecution, with case number 08/2026 at Nabi Bux police station,” Raza told Arab News.

Section 427 relates to mischief causing damage, 436 concerns mischief by fire or explosive substance, 337-H (i) details punishment for rash or negligent act, and 322 details punishment for homicide.

Deadly fires are a recurring problem in Karachi, a city of more than 20 million people, where overcrowded markets, aging infrastructure, illegal construction and weak enforcement of safety regulations frequently contribute to disasters. Officials say a blaze of this scale is rare.

Identification has been significantly slowed by the condition of the remains recovered from the site, Syed said, noting that many bodies were found in fragments, complicating DNA analysis and prolonging the process for families waiting for confirmation.

Traders have estimated total losses from the fire at up to Rs15 billion ($53.6 million). The Sindh provincial government this week announced compensation of Rs10 million ($35,720) for the family of each person killed in the blaze and said affected shopkeepers would also receive financial assistance.

Separately on Saturday, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) party urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to constitute an inquiry commission to hold those accountable whose negligence led to the Gul Plaza inferno.

“Incapability, mistake, apathy, shamelessness, impudence — these should be exposed,” MQM-P’s Farooq Sattar said, calling for an “independent judicial inquiry” into the Gul Plaza tragedy to ensure the truth comes to light.

LAHORE HOTEL FIRE

Meanwhile, a fire erupted at a hotel in the eastern city of Lahore in Pakistan’s most populous Punjab province, according to Rescue 1122 service.

Six people were injured due to the blaze at the hotel in the city’s Gulberg area who were shifted to hospital.

“All necessary steps be taken to quickly control the fire, instructions,” Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Ali Aijaz directed authorities. “Immediate evacuation of all people from the building be ensured.”