Karachi RJ Mall Fire: Police lodges FIR against KE and fire brigade, building sealed

The Karachi police on Sunday registered a first information report (FIR) at Shahrah-e-Faisal police station a day after RJ shopping mall situated on Rashid Minhas Road caught fire killing 11 people.

At least 11 people died while five others were injured after a fire erupted inside the R.J. Shopping Mall, a commercial 6-storey building that housed shopping centres, call centres and software houses, at 6:20 am on Saturday due to a suspected short circuit.

The report nominated K-Electric (KE), the fire brigade, and departments that issued a no-objection certificate for the construction of the building.

The first information report (FIR) — with provisions of culpable homicide, negligence and damages for the lives lost in the tragic incident —mentions that the fire in the building is suspected to have started due to a short circuit. 

It stated that an inspection of the site revealed the six-storey building did not have an emergency exit or a fire alarm system, and it was suspected that the blaze erupted due to a short circuit.

It added that the building had no fire extinguishers and no emergency exits, while its map was also approved illegally.

“Bad materials were used in the construction of the building,” the FIR stated.

The FIR invoked Sections 322 (manslaughter), 436 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house, etc), 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees), 288 (negligent conduct with respect to pulling down or repairing buildings), 285 (negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter) and 34 (acts done by several persons In furtherance of common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

The FIR also mentioned the role of K-Electric and the fire brigade, which issued a no objection certificate (NOC) to the shopping mall despite the use of defective material.

It added that the company, government department and other institutions committed criminal negligence.

Karachi East Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Syed Irfan Bahadur, after inspecting the building on Sunday, told the press that the police would initiate further legal proceedings after experts determined the exact cause of the fire and other contributory factors.

“So far, it is suspected that a short circuit triggered the fire,” he said, adding that no arrests had been made so far.

Meanwhile, caretaker Sindh Chief Minister Retired Justice Maqbool Baqar ordered a safety audit of all commercial buildings, public spots and offices, saying fire eruption incidents were taking place because the inspection system had been abandoned in the city.

CM also directed the Sindh Building Control Authority, Provincial Disaster Management Authority, Civil Defence, and deputy commissioners/assistant commissioners concerned to carry out safety audits of all public and commercial buildings, educational institutions, and government offices and submit their reports along with recommendations.

The CM also directed the Karachi commissioner to investigate the R.J. Shopping Mall fire.

On the other hand, Mayor Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab said the commercial building where the fire incident took place was located within the jurisdiction of the Cantonment Board.