Overview
- The commission held its first meeting under Justice Agha Faisal and issued a public notice inviting information and eyewitness accounts by email through February 20.
- Chief Justice Zafar Ahmed Rajput approved a dedicated secretariat at the Sindh High Court, and the Karachi commissioner was directed to provide staff including a registrar and focal person.
- The Sindh government’s notification tasks the panel with examining construction approvals, lease status, plan violations affecting exits, firefighting arrangements, safety audits, and the performance of rescue operations, with a report due in eight weeks.
- Separately, four eyewitnesses — three salesmen and a 13-year-old — recorded statements before Judicial Magistrate Asim Aslam, which were added to the case record.
- One witness alleged a child playing with matchsticks ignited the blaze, while others described failed efforts to douse fast-spreading flames in the January 17 fire that burned for more than 32 hours and caused heavy losses.