Authorities have submitted the challan for the Gul Plaza fire incident to the prosecution, identifying six suspects, among them an 11-year-old child, all declared absconding as per the investigation findings.
The devastating fire, which resulted in 72 fatalities, has been officially categorized as accidental following forensic analysis. The Punjab Forensic Science Agency examined samples collected by a Lahore crime scene unit and found no evidence of explosives at the location. Investigators also noted that the remains of four victims remain unclaimed.
The investigation revealed that the fire originated in Shop No. 193, owned by Naimatullah, who reportedly left the shop in the care of his young son, Huzaifa. The report indicates that the blaze started when the boy ignited matchsticks and threw them, setting fire to artificial flowers stored inside the shop. Both Naimatullah and Huzaifa were held accountable for negligence in the report.
Meanwhile, the market union was criticized for multiple failures that exacerbated the tragedy. The union did not prevent a minor from working unsupervised, failed to issue an emergency alert or summon help after the fire began, and neglected to unlock the plaza’s main gates promptly, which trapped many inside.
In a significant development, the report accuses union president Tanveer Pasta of instructing K-Electric to cut power to the building, plunging the market into darkness and complicating evacuation efforts.
The suspects named in the challan include Naimatullah, his son Huzaifa, market committee president Tanveer Pasta, vice-president Ammar Ismail, general secretary Muhammad Amin, and joint secretary Muhammad Ramzan.
During the inquiry, statements from four eyewitnesses were recorded under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code. Notably, the findings of the Gul Plaza Judicial Commission were not incorporated into the challan.
The fire broke out on the night of January 17, 2026, engulfing the ground-plus-three-storey commercial plaza, causing partial collapse and claiming 72 lives. A manslaughter case was filed against unidentified individuals, and a thorough investigation was launched to determine the cause and assess negligence.
The challan submission followed months of delays. Earlier, prosecutors rejected an initial charge sheet due to several shortcomings, instructing the investigating officer to include site inspection reports, plaza documentation, information on former market union officials, and records from an anti-corruption case related to alleged unauthorized construction of the building.
Investigators concluded that the market union failed to contact emergency services immediately after the fire started and allowed a minor to operate the artificial flower shop unsupervised. They also found that the exit gates were locked and that fire safety measures were either missing or insufficient. Forensic tests confirmed the absence of explosives or accelerants.
Witnesses, whose statements were recorded before a judicial magistrate, supported the account that the fire began after the shop owner’s young son was seen playing with matchsticks inside the shop, a version corroborated by other shopkeepers.
