Police on Saturday submitted the charge sheet in the Gul Plaza fire case to a court in Karachi, holding the shopping mall's association primarily responsible for the deadly inferno. A massive fire that ripped through Gul Plaza - a popular three-storey shopping mall in the port city - on January 17 killed more than 70 people and exposed serious safety failures in the country's largest city.

The building, housing almost 1,200 businesses across its basement, mezzanine and three floors, offered a variety of shopping options for Karachiites, such as wedding wear, toys, household items, baby clothes and much more, all of which were reduced to ashes as a result of the incident. According to the charge sheet, police found no negligence on the part of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, fire brigade or civil defence.

Police have included 87 witnesses in the case and raised serious questions over fire safety arrangements at Gul Plaza. The charge sheet also noted the alleged negligence of the Gul Plaza administration regarding the safety arrangements available in shops and the building, while stating that CCTV footage and other crucial evidence were obtained during the investigation.

According to the forensic report, no explosive material was found in the examined items, nor were any traces of flammable liquids detected. However, a Commission of Inquiry formed to probe the inferno observed that the management was well aware of the fire safety deficiencies but utterly failed to take corrective measures.