11-Year-Old Faces Trial for Deadly Karachi Fire

Jul 5, 2026

72 min

Jul 5, 2026 11:30

11-year-old to face trial in Karachi Gul Plaza fire that killed 72

## Incident Overview

An 11-year-old boy is set to face a juvenile court trial in connection with a devastating fire at Karachi's Gul Plaza Shopping Centre. The blaze, which occurred on January 17, 2026, resulted in the deaths of 72 individuals and injured eight others. Over 1,100 shops were destroyed in one of the city's busiest commercial areas.

## Investigation Details

The charge sheet, filed by the investigating officer, names six individuals, including the minor, his father, and four members of the Gul Plaza Management Committee. Eyewitness accounts suggest the fire began when the boy was playing with matchsticks inside his father's shop. A witness, a 13-year-old named Aryan, testified that he saw the boy playing with matches when the fire ignited.

## Allegations of Negligence

The investigation accuses the boy's father of allowing him to be unsupervised in the shop. Additionally, the management committee is blamed for failing to enforce safety regulations. The charge sheet highlights several safety lapses, such as locked exits, insufficient fire extinguishers, and a lack of emergency lighting, which exacerbated the situation when the building lost power.

## Legal Proceedings

The minor will be tried in a juvenile court, while the other accused face charges under various sections of the Pakistan Penal Code, including negligence and manslaughter. The charge sheet was submitted despite previous objections from prosecutors regarding procedural issues and missing reports from a judicial commission and a joint investigation team.

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