A key development emerged on Monday in the Gul Plaza deadly inferno case as four eyewitnesses recorded their statements before the Judicial Magistrate (South) Asim Aslam, shedding light on the events that led to the fire that claimed at least 80 lives.ff

During the hearing, three salesmen and a 13-year-old student testified before the magistrate, describing how the fire broke out on January 17 and rapidly engulfed shops inside the plaza. The eyewitnesses were identified as Aryan, Talha, Waheed and Hamza.

In his statement, 13-year-old Aryan told the court that he had visited his friend Huzayfa at his father’s shop on the evening of January 17. He said Huzayfa was alone at the shop and was playing with matchsticks, adding that he had two matchboxes with him. Aryan stated that he remained at the shop until around 8:30pm before leaving to play at his father’s shop, where his friend Samad later died in the fire. Aryan further testified that when he returned around 10pm to say goodbye, Huzayfa was again playing with matchsticks, which ignited the fire. He said shopkeepers had previously warned Huzayfa against such behaviour.

Another eyewitness, Talha, told the court that he was at his shop when a fire suddenly broke out at a flower shop. He said they initially attempted to extinguish the flames but were forced to flee as the fire intensified.

Waheed stated that he heard children arguing before someone shouted that a fire had erupted. He said they tried to remove flower stock from the shop, but nuts attached to the flowers made it difficult, allowing the fire to spread rapidly. Thick smoke soon filled the area, prompting him to retreat and eventually exit the market as the blaze worsened. Hamza testified that he was doing accounts work when fire erupted in Shop No 193. He said the flames were so intense that water failed to control them, forcing them to run outside to save their lives.

After recording the statements, Judicial Magistrate Asim Aslam made them part of the official case record and adjourned further proceedings.

Judicial Inquiry still

on hold

Five days after the announcement of a judicial commission to probe the Gul Plaza tragedy, the inquiry has yet to begin due to the non-issuance of the official gazette notification.

Sources said the Registrar of the Sindh High Court has sent a letter to the Secretary of the Interior, but the gazette notification establishing the judicial commission has not yet been received by the High Court.

Under Section 3 of the Sindh Tribunals of Inquiry Ordinance 1969, the issuance of the gazette notification is mandatory. Without this formal notification, the judicial commission cannot become operational.