Gul Plaza fire: no one led rescue operation at site, says Justice Agha Faisal

WEB DESK: Head of the judicial commission investigating the Gul Plaza tragedy, Justice Agha Faisal said on Thursday that there was no leadership overseeing the rescue operation at the site, highlighting serious gaps in emergency management. Representatives of the BRT Green Line project, including Shafi Muhammad Chachar, appeared before the commission to provide testimony.

Rescue operations hampered by Green Line project

The commission was informed that the construction of the Green Line project had created obstacles during the rescue operation. Justice Agha Faisal noted that MA Jinnah Road, a key artery in the city, has effectively functioned as a narrow lane for the past six months due to ongoing construction. He added that the project appeared to have been launched without a clear plan, raising concerns about accountability.

Project temporarily halted

Shafi Muhammad Chachar told the commission that the mayor of Karachi had temporarily halted the project for two months to manage city traffic and safety issues. He added that construction is expected to be completed by October, but ongoing work continues to cause traffic disruptions.

Questions on government support and responsibilities

The commission questioned whether government authorities had requested heavy machinery to assist rescue teams on the day of the incident. Chachar responded that no such request was made by government officials or rescue teams. Justice Agha Faisal stressed that lives had been lost and that someone must be held responsible. Chachar maintained that the Green Line team had fully cooperated and facilitated the movement of rescue personnel during the operations.

Accountability for building construction

The commission head also demanded that the DG of the Sindh Building Control Authority explain how the building was constructed and under whose permission. Justice Faisal further highlighted that there was no one leading the rescue operation at the Gul Plaza site when the incident occurred, revealing serious gaps in emergency management.