11-Year-Old to Face Trial for Deadly Karachi Mall Fire

An 11-year-old boy is slated to stand trial for allegedly igniting the devastating fire at Karachi's Gul Plaza Shopping Centre on January 17, which claimed the lives of 72 people. The charge sheet, filed by the investigating officer, names the minor, his father, and four members of the plaza's management committee as accused individuals.

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According to the charge sheet, 72 people had lost their lives, eight sustained injuries and 1,153 shops were gutted in the devastating fire.

This development follows a prosecutor's initial return of the charge sheet, requesting the inclusion of a judicial commission's report. However, another prosecutor ultimately approved the filing, allowing the commission's report to be submitted at a later stage. The fire not only resulted in 72 fatalities and 8 injuries but also caused extensive damage, gutting 1,153 shops within the plaza.

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One of them, 13-year-old Aryan, deposed that he was present at his friend Huzaifa’s shop at Gul Plaza and Huzaifa was playing with matchsticks when the fire suddenly broke out in the shop.

According to witness statements, the fire originated from an artificial flower shop where the 11-year-old boy, Huzaifa, was reportedly playing with matches. Eyewitnesses claim Huzaifa's father, Naimatullah, who owned the shop, frequently left his underage son in charge. Call data records indicate Naimatullah was not present at the time of the incident. The charge sheet also points to negligence by the management committee, citing locked or blocked exits, inadequate fire extinguishers, a lack of a fire hydrant system, and no emergency lighting.

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It said as per the call data record (CDR), Naimatullah was also not present at the shop at the time of the incident.

Prosecutors are proceeding with the case against Huzaifa in a juvenile court due to his age. The charge sheet lists 42 prosecution witnesses, some of whom have provided statements to a judicial magistrate. The management committee members are also accused of failing to contact emergency services promptly after the fire broke out.

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The charge sheet also stated that an underage boy was running the shop and the officials of the management committee had failed to take any action against Naimatullah or restrain him from allowing his juvenile son to operate the shop alone.