Karachi : Police in Karachi have formed a special five-member team to investigate the Gul Plaza inferno and arrest those responsible for the tragedy that claimed at least 73 lives and destroyed more than 1,100 shops.

An order issued by South Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Syed Asad Raza on Monday directed the team to make “all-out and diligent efforts” to apprehend suspects and conduct an impartial probe. The team includes the Garden Sub-divisional police officer, the Kharadar investigation DSP, the head of the Garden Central Investigation Cell, the station house officer of Nabi Bux police station, and the investigation officer assigned to the case. They may also co-opt additional officers from the South Zone if needed.

The case, registered on January 23 at Nabi Bux police station, cites negligence and carelessness as the cause of the fire but does not name any suspects. DIG Raza ordered that daily progress reports be submitted without fail.

The blaze erupted on the night of January 17 and took nearly two days to extinguish. Rescue teams spent nine days combing through the rubble to recover remains of victims and missing persons before concluding the search operation on Sunday. So far, only 23 of the deceased have been identified.

Following the operation, Gul Plaza has been sealed. Temporary restrictions on M.A. Jinnah Road have been lifted, and Karachi Metropolitan Corporation workers have begun installing green construction mesh around the plaza.

This investigation marks the next phase in efforts to bring accountability after one of the deadliest urban fires in Karachi’s recent history.