Between hope and ashes: families await answers after Gul Plaza fire

The smell of smoke still hangs over Gul Plaza, but for families gathered outside the charred building, it is the weight of uncertainty that is hardest to endure. A day after the fire tore through the commercial complex on MA Jinnah Road, dozens remain missing, leaving relatives trapped between hope and grief as rescue efforts continue amid fears that time, and answers, are slipping away. Gul Plaza known for an array of household products at a wholesale rate was frequented by those looking to improve their houses in affordable rates especially those building a jahez.

‘They said they were going to Gul Plaza’

Among those missing are three women from a single family residing in Karachi’s Metroville Site area. Speaking to HUM News, family head Qaiser Khan said his wife Raheela, daughter-in-law Kainat and sister Shaista had gone to Gul Plaza on the night of the incident to shop for household items, drawn by an ongoing sale.

“We waited for them until midnight, but they never returned,” Khan recalled. “At around 1am, we received the news that a fire had broken out at Gul Plaza.” He said the women had clearly informed the family of their destination before leaving, leaving little doubt about where they had gone.

Fear that time is running out

Standing near the cordoned-off site, Khan expressed grave concern over the pace of rescue efforts. “The way this operation is progressing, it does not seem like it will be completed even in a week,” he said, adding that heavy machinery was being used extensively. “There is a fear that bodies may be damaged in the process.”

Despite the uncertainty, Khan said the family had accepted whatever fate awaited them. “We are content with Allah’s will,” he said, his voice heavy with emotion. “But at the very least, return the bodies to us.” He confirmed that DNA samples had already been submitted to assist with identification.

A family waiting for a miracle

Another family facing a similar ordeal is that of trader Muhammad Ramzan and his son Shehraz, both of whom remain unaccounted for. The father and son owned shops selling bedsheets and blankets on the building’s ninth floor, where the fire caused extensive damage.

Arshad, Ramzan’s nephew, said contact with his uncle was lost after 10pm on the night of the fire. “The scale of this tragedy is overwhelming,” he said. “More than 36 hours have passed, and the fire had still not been fully extinguished.”

He said the family continues to pray for a miracle. “We are hoping that people may still emerge alive,” Arshad said. “This is not just about two individuals, it is about an entire family. Please pray for us.” He added that Shehraz had been married only two to two-and-a-half years ago.

Allegations of delay and negligence

Shah Mir, Ramzan’s grandson, said there had been no communication with his grandfather after 10pm. He explained that five to seven workers were employed at the shop, two of whom managed to escape alive by exiting through a nearby mosque.

“They told us the smoke had completely filled the building and they were suffocating,” Shah Mir said. “The last time we spoke to my grandfather, he said he was heading towards my uncle.”

He alleged that fire tenders arrived late and soon ran out of water, allowing the flames to spread rapidly. “The fire started on one floor, but due to negligence it spread to four,” he said. “If the fire brigade had reached on time with sufficient water, this tragedy could have been contained.”

A worker under rubble

The grief-stricken mother and sisters of 18-year-old Abrar remained inconsolable days after the deadly as the family continues its desperate search for him. Abrar, who worked at a decoration items shop on the building’s ninth floor, has been missing since the blaze erupted. Overcome with anguish, his mother pleaded with authorities to at least hand her son over, alive or dead, saying the uncertainty was unbearable. “Give us our son, whether living or not,” she cried.

His sisters, their eyes swollen with tears, said they had been running from one place to another for three days in search of any information. Frustration and anger are also mounting among relatives and other families at the site, with many accusing authorities of failing to fully extinguish the fire even after days, further delaying rescue and recovery efforts and deepening the suffering of those waiting for answers.

Waiting for closure

As families wait outside Gul Plaza, some for more than 36 hours, the air remains thick with smoke, sorrow and unanswered questions. For them, the search is not only for survivors, but for closure, dignity and the chance to lay their loved ones to rest.