Gul Plaza Death Toll Rises to 79 as Rescue Operation Nears Completion

The death toll from the Gul Plaza tragedy has climbed to 79 as rescue and recovery operations entered their ninth consecutive day, Deputy Commissioner South Javed Nabi Khoso said on Saturday.

According to the official, 23 bodies have so far been formally identified, while efforts are under way to establish the identities of the remaining victims through DNA profiling. He said search operations are nearing completion, with the ground floor and mezzanine first floor already cleared.

“One remaining portion of the building still needs to be searched, after which the operation will be concluded,” Khoso said, adding that the Gul Plaza building will be sealed on Sunday.

He said relatives of 13 individuals listed as missing have yet to contact the authorities. So far, families of 55 victims have submitted DNA samples to aid the identification process. The investigation into the incident is ongoing, though complete details of the inquiry report are still awaited.

Meanwhile, Urban Search and Rescue teams recovered additional human remains from the third floor of the damaged structure. Rescue officials said the remains were shifted to Civil Hospital Karachi for DNA profiling.

Authorities said both heavy machinery and manual search methods are being used simultaneously, but operations remain challenging due to the unstable condition of the building. Despite concerns that more bodies could still be trapped beneath the debris, officials said the operation is now in its final phase.

Officials said progress continues on victim identification through forensic testing. The body of Abdul Haseeb was recently identified with assistance from the Sindh Forensic DNA Laboratory, which has so far issued reports for 16 individuals. Overall, 25 victims have now been identified.

Political Exchange Intensifies

The tragedy has also triggered a sharp political exchange between Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Farooq Sattar.

Speaking to the media, Sharjeel Inam Memon blamed decades of illegal construction and administrative shortcomings in Karachi, alleging that such practices expanded during MQM’s time in power. He said the Gul Plaza incident was the outcome of long-standing governance failures rather than a single lapse.

Read also: Gul Plaza Fire Sparks Heated Debate in NA Over Governance and Emergency Failures

Rejecting the claims, Farooq Sattar accused the Sindh government of deflecting responsibility instead of addressing systemic issues. He questioned the delayed arrival of senior provincial and city officials at the site and raised concerns over inadequate fire safety measures in hundreds of buildings across Karachi.

Sattar also called for the formation of an independent judicial commission to investigate the incident, proposing the inclusion of institutions such as NAB, FIA, PDMA and the Pakistan Engineering Council.

Calls for Judicial Inquiry

As Karachi continues to mourn, Farooq Sattar urged the Sindh Chief Minister to personally meet the victims’ families and affected traders. Describing the incident as a “national tragedy,” he said financial losses run into billions of rupees and warned that more than 100 lives may ultimately have been impacted.

He rejected any inquiry led by the Karachi Commissioner and demanded a judicial commission headed by Supreme Court judges to ensure an independent and transparent investigation.

As rescue efforts, victim identification and investigations continue, the Gul Plaza tragedy has once again highlighted serious concerns over urban safety, regulatory enforcement and accountability in Pakistan’s largest city.