KARACHI: Recovery efforts at the site of the Gul Plaza tragedy entered their ninth day on Sunday as more human remains were recovered overnight, bringing authorities closer to concluding the search operation.
The port city’s deadliest fire in over a decade erupted on January 17 and rapidly spread through the Gul Plaza shopping complex, which housed around 1,200 family-run shops dealing in wedding garments, toys, crockery and other goods.
Rescue officials said urban search and rescue teams recovered human remains from the third floor of the collapsed structure, which were shifted to Civil Hospital for DNA profiling.
According to Rescue 1122, the death toll has climbed to 71, while 82 people were reported missing at the District South deputy commissioner office. Officials said 10 to 11 individuals are still unaccounted for.
Authorities confirmed that 22 victims have so far been identified, including 15 through DNA testing, as the identification process continues.
District South DC Javed Nabi Khoso said search and recovery operations are expected to be completed today, though debris removal will continue. He confirmed that human remains recovered late at night were sent for DNA analysis and said a case has been registered, with investigations underway.
However, he urged restraint, saying it would be premature to draw conclusions before the completion of the probe.
Read More: Gul Plaza fire death toll climbs to 26, child among dead
Meanwhile, police registered a first information report at Nabi Bux Police Station under sections related to negligence and carelessness. Police said the FIR has been added against unidentified persons and sealed after registration.
Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar said there were concerns regarding possible sabotage or terrorism but added that anti-terror provisions would only be included if supported by evidence.
Separately, MQM-P chairman Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui wrote to the prime minister, seeking the formation of a federal inquiry commission into the Gul Plaza tragedy. The party called for the inclusion of multiple institutions, including FIA, NAB, NDMA, MI, ISI, Nespak and the State Bank, in the probe.
The MQM-P chief also urged the federal government to take over investigations and relief efforts and proposed the creation of a relief and rehabilitation fund to provide financial assistance to victims and their families.
Earlier, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah told the provincial assembly that 88 people were initially reported missing, but after one person returned safely and five duplicate entries were removed, the number was revised to 82.
Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori also announced plans to write to the chief justices of the Supreme Court and the Sindh High Court, calling for an inquiry into the incident and strict action against those responsible.