A breakthrough surfaced on Monday in the investigation of the tragic Gul Plaza fire, as four eyewitnesses recorded their statements before Judicial Magistrate (South) Asim Aslam. Their testimonies offered disturbing details about the moments leading up to the deadly inferno that killed at least 80 people.

During the hearing, three shop workers and one 13-year-old student appeared before the magistrate and shared what they witnessed on the night of January 17, when flames spread rapidly through the plaza, trapping many inside. The witnesses were identified as Aryan, Talha, Waheed, and Hamza.

One of the most critical statements came from Aryan, a 13-year-old boy, who told the court that he had visited his friend Huzayfa at his father’s shop earlier that evening. According to Aryan, Huzayfa was alone at the shop and was playing with matchsticks. He claimed that Huzayfa had two matchboxes with him and had previously been warned by shopkeepers to stop engaging in such risky behaviour.

Aryan stated that he stayed until around 8:30 pm, then left to play at his father’s shop. He later returned around 10 pm to say goodbye. At that time, he saw Huzayfa once again playing with matchsticks, and moments later, the fire broke out. Aryan’s statement suggested that the fire may have started due to the careless use of matchsticks inside the shop.

Another witness, Talha, described being inside his shop when a sudden fire erupted at a flower shop nearby. He said shopkeepers tried to control the fire at first, but within minutes it became uncontrollable, forcing everyone to run for safety.

Meanwhile, Waheed told the magistrate that he heard children arguing shortly before someone shouted that a fire had started. He explained that shopkeepers attempted to save flower stock, but the situation worsened quickly.

He added that certain items attached to the flowers made it difficult to remove them in time, which contributed to the fire spreading faster. Soon, heavy smoke filled the area, leaving no choice but to retreat and escape the market.

The fourth witness, Hamza, stated that he was working on accounts when the blaze erupted in Shop No. 193. He explained that the flames were so powerful that even water could not control them. Hamza said the intensity of the fire forced people to rush outside to survive.

After recording all four testimonies, Magistrate Asim Aslam officially added them to the case file and adjourned further proceedings.

Despite the government announcing a judicial commission to investigate the Gul Plaza tragedy, the inquiry has still not begun, even five days after the announcement. Sources revealed that the delay is due to the absence of an official gazette notification, which is legally required to activate the commission.

The eyewitness testimonies have provided investigators with valuable leads about how the Gul Plaza fire may have started and how quickly it turned deadly. However, while the legal process continues, delays in launching the judicial commission raise serious concerns about accountability and transparency. Families of the victims continue to wait for justice, answers, and action, not paperwork delays.

 Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)