SHC Rejects Governor Tessori’s Request for Gul Plaza Judicial Commission

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday rejected Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori’s request to form a judicial commission to investigate the Gul Plaza fire, citing non-compliance with relevant laws and court precedents.

In a letter dated January 27 to SHC Chief Justice Zafar Ahmed Rajput, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader asked for a judicial inquiry to “investigate the Gul Plaza fire incident and uncover the root causes, negligence, or legal violations that may have led to this tragedy.”

The high court responded on January 28, stating that a formal and independent inquiry into matters of public interest should generally be appointed by the government, as outlined in Section 3 of the Pakistan Commissions of Inquiry Act, 2017. The court added that consultation with the head of the concerned institution is required if the inquiry involves any of its members, referencing the case Abid Shahid Zuberi vs. Federation of Pakistan (PLD 2023 SC 493).

The SHC clarified that Tessori’s request could not be approved until the proper legal procedures were fully followed.

However, SHC sources told Dawn that the Sindh government’s request to have a sitting judge conduct the inquiry was still under consideration.

A cabinet sub-committee, headed by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, reviewed the matter on January 29. The committee concluded that an independent judicial probe was necessary to ensure transparency, accountability, and institutional learning. It suggested that the SHC nominate a sitting judge to investigate the fire, determine responsibility, and examine any regulatory failures.

The Gul Plaza fire, which erupted on January 17 and burned for nearly two days, claimed at least 73 lives and destroyed more than 1,100 shops. Tessori’s letter came amid rising demands from opposition parties for a formal inquiry after preliminary findings suggested the blaze started accidentally in a flower shop.