IGP forms two teams to probe City Courts warehouse fire

The provincial police chief, AD Khowaja, on Thursday formed two teams to investigate the massive fire that broke out at the City Courts warehouse and destroyed property and records of pending cases of two districts.

The two teams will be headed by South-Zone DIGP Azad Khan and East-Zone DIGP Zulfiqar Larik. Evidence, records and property of pending cases in courts of District East and South were destroyed in the fire that broke out at 2:31am on Wednesday.

DIGP Khan’s team comprises City SSP Sheeraz Nazeer, City Division SP Shehla Qureshi and one representative each of Forensic Division, Special Branch and Fire Brigade, while the Korangi Investigation SSP and one DSP each of Malir Investigation and East Investigation would be the members of Larik’s team.

Speaking to The News, Khan said his team has been assigned to probe what caused the fire and would submit a report within three days. He added they began their investigation by interrogating the staff of City Court police station and the eyewitnesses in the vicinity. Khan said they would also approach an expert for technical assistance in determining the cause of the fire.

On the other hand, DIGP Larik said his team has been assigned the task of determining the extent of the loss of case record and property. He said that his team visited the City Courts on Thursday and would start working once the Bomb Disposal Squad declares it clear.

A team of the BDS began working at the warehouse on Thursday, however, it was yet to declare it cleared by the time this report was filed. Khan said the squad would take time to carefully sweep the site before opening it for inspection because explosive material which was recovered from suspects and stored at the warehouse as case property is at the site and could explode if it catches heat from anywhere.

A team of the Punjab Forensic Science Agency has also arrived to assist in the investigation. According to Khan, the Punjab government has sent the team on the IGP’s request. He said PFSA is well-equipped and they have the expertise to probe such incidents better than that of Sindh Forensic Science Division.