Was the Karachi Gul Plaza Fire an Inside Job? 14+ Dead, Dozens Missing!

Tragedy Strikes: Gul Plaza Mall Fire in Karachi

Karachi, Pakistan (January 2026): A devastating fire ripped through Gul Plaza Mall on MA Jinnah Road, leaving 14+ confirmed dead and over 50 people missing. The blaze reportedly started late Saturday night and spread rapidly due to highly flammable merchandise including carpets, fabrics, and plastics, engulfing all three stories of the commercial building.

Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes of smoke, flames, and panicked shoppers as rescue teams struggled to reach trapped victims amid collapsed floors and extreme heat.

Casualties and Damage

• Confirmed deaths: 14+

• Missing persons: 50–60+

• Injured: Numerous shopkeepers and firefighters, treated for smoke inhalation and burns

• Economic loss: Thousands of shops destroyed, billions in damages

This disaster has shocked Karachi’s business community and raised serious questions about fire safety in crowded markets.

Why the Fire Spread So Fast

1. Highly Flammable Inventory: Carpets, fabrics, plastics, and other materials acted as fuel for the fire.

2. Structural Weakness: Poor construction, minimal reinforcement, and old maintenance made the building vulnerable to collapse.

3. Fire Safety Gaps: Absence of sprinklers, smoke alarms, and compartmentalization allowed the fire to engulf multiple floors.

Outcome: Prolonged heat caused steel reinforcements to weaken and floors to collapse progressively, making rescue operations extremely dangerous.

Accident or Inside Job?

Preliminary reports indicate the fire likely originated from an electrical short circuit inside one of the shops. However, given Karachi’s history of suspicious commercial fires, many are questioning whether this could have been an inside job or deliberate arson.

• Signs that raise suspicion:

  • Rapid, unusually intense fire spread

  • Previous incidents of commercial fires in the same district

  • Dense, flammable inventory stacked in all shops

Authorities are conducting full forensic investigations to determine if foul play was involved.

Eyewitness Accounts

• Visitors trapped on upper floors described walls cracking and ceilings sagging under extreme heat.

• Rescue teams navigated through unstable floors and debris, risking their lives to save trapped victims.

• Firefighters battled flames for over 24 hours before bringing the fire under control.

Lessons and Warnings

This tragedy highlights systemic safety gaps in Karachi’s commercial buildings:

• Mandatory fire exits and evacuation routes

• Regular electrical inspections

• Fire-resistant building materials

• Sprinklers, alarms, and smoke control systems

Without proper enforcement, incidents like the Gul Plaza fire could easily repeat.

Conclusion

The Gul Plaza fire has left Karachi mourning its victims and questioning how a fire in a commercial building could escalate so quickly. While initial reports point to an accident, the possibility of an inside job cannot be ignored until the investigation concludes.