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GUL PLAZA FIRE TOLL RISES TO 73 AMID CALLS FOR JUDICIAL PROBE, RELIEF TO TRADERS
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Monday, 26 January, 2026 | 6 Sha’ban, 1447
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XVI No 202 | 8 Pages | Islamabad Edition
g RESCUERS MAKING FINAL PUSH FOR POLICE SURGEON CONFIRMS DEATH TOLL MISSING PERSONS RECOVERY AS REACHES 73, WITH 23 VICTIMS IDENTIFIED THROUGH DNA, FACIAL RECOGNITION, AND CNIC FIRE GUTTED OVER 1,100 SHOPS
FUNERALS HELD IN KARACHI AND SUKKUR FOR MULTIPLE VICTIMS
CALLS FOR JUDICIAL COMMISSION TO DETERMINE ACCOUNTABILITY
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GOVERNOR PLEDGES EDUCATION AND HOUSING SUPPORT FOR BEREAVED FAMILIES FREE FIRE-SAFETY TRAINING PROGRAMME LAUNCHED AT GOVERNOR’S HOUSE
MQM-P demands federal inquiry into Gul Plaza fire HYDERABAD
Staff report
T
KARACHI
Staff report
HE death toll from the tragic Gul Plaza fire rose to 73 on Sunday after the recovery of two more bodies, while families continued to mourn the loss of their loved ones as funeral of some victims was offered in Karachi and Sukkur. Police Surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed confirmed that 23 victims have been identified, including 16 through DNA matching, six via facial recognition, and one through CNIC verification. All DNA
tests are being conducted at the Sindh Forensic DNA and Serology Lab at the University of Karachi. The inferno, which erupted on the night of January 17 and took nearly two days to be fully extinguished, has left over 1,100 shops in ruins. Rescue operations are ongoing, with Rescue 1122 Chief Operating Officer Dr Abid Jalal Shaikh stating that the search is in its final phase, with only 5% of the basement still under debris. Operations were briefly halted to allow forensic teams to collect samples, after which the search resumed. The victims identified so far include
Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Haider Abbas Rizvi on Sunday renewed his party’s demand for the formation of a federal inquiry commission under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, to probe the deadly Gul Plaza fire. Addressing a press conference in Hyderabad, Rizvi said the commission must include representatives from FIA, IB, ISI, MI, NDMA, and other federal bodies to determine whether the tragedy was a result of subversion or negligence. He added that MQM Chairman Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui had formally written to the prime minister seeking such an inquiry under the Pakistan Commission of Inquiry Kashif, Aamir, Faraz, Farooq, Furqan, Mohammad Ali, Tanveer, Mohammad Sharoz, Mohammad Athar, Sarfaraz, Mohammad Hanif, Misbah, Kausar Parveen, Mohammad Saad, Mohammad
Act 2017. Rizvi sharply criticised the Sindh government and Karachi administration for dumping the debris — which contained human remains — at Meva Shah ground, warning that it would compromise forensic investigation. “It looks like evidence is being stolen, although the crime scene’s sanctity should be preserved under international standards,” he said. He condemned the government for acting as both accused and investigator, questioning the hasty FIR registration and the handling of DNA identification for 83 victims. “You are not even able to perform DNA tests without seeking Punjab’s help,” Rizvi remarked, highlighting gaps in Karachi’s firefighting system and emergency preparedness.
Ramzan, Mohammad Usman, Mohammad Rizwan, Marium Wafa, Mohammad Arif, Mohammad Shees, Churchill, Mohammad Rafiq, and Abdul Haseeb.
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KP CM draws ‘red line’ against plots for governor’s rule and ‘backroom decisions’ SWAT
Syed Shahabuddin
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Sunday asserted that he and his party would firmly resist decisions taken “behind closed doors” and would not accept any “unconstitutional” move or “attempt to impose” Governor’s rule in the province. Addressing supporters during a PTI street movement at Do Jangi Chowk in Mingora city of Swat district, the chief minister said that such “backroom decisions” were against the public mandate and would be “challenged openly.” Earlier, CM Afridi arrived in Mingora, where party workers and leaders accorded him a grand welcome. His convoy was received red welcome at several key points, including Qamber Chowk, Balogram Chowk and Brikot Chowk. He was accompanied by PTI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa President Junaid Akbar, Provincial Minister for Higher Education Mina Khan Afridi, Information Minister Shafi Jan, MNAs Shahid Khan Khattak, Dr Amjad Ali, Saleem Rehman and Sohail Sultan, MPAs Fazal Hakeem Khan, Hamid Rehman and Ali Shah Khan, as well as advocates Akhtar Khan and Muhammad Naeem, along with other party leaders. In his address, CM Afridi said that when former prime minister Imran Khan nominated him for the post of chief minister, there was resistance. However, he said, the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa gave a clear mandate to Imran Khan through their votes, and the provincial government’s performance reflected that mandate. He alleged that organised narratives were built against him, attempts were made to portray him as a terrorist, and a senior official even held a press conference displaying videos against him. The chief minister further alleged that plans were hatched to impose Governor’s rule, disqualify him and even “target him for assassination,” while security operations in his native constituency led to the displacement of local residents. CM Afridi emphasized that his party was not against the armed forces or state institutions, but would openly oppose any decision taken against the “will of the people” and would “act as dissenters” in such circumstances. He warned that deliberate efforts were underway to create friction between the provincial government and institutions in an attempt to undermine the KP government. Recalling an incident, he said he had once left an official meeting to attend the funeral of a fallen soldier, underscoring his respect for the armed forces.