Eight detained, four absconding suspects implicated in interim charge sheet

Police have filed an interim charge-sheet before a judicial magistrate in a case pertaining to the November 25 blaze at a shopping mall on Rashid Minhas Road that resulted in the deaths of 11 people.

The investigation officer (IO), Muhammad Sharif Meo, named eight detained suspects — builder/owner Arif Dhoni's son Hassan; owners of a software firm Hashir, Yawar, Imran and Adnan, mall administrators Sultan and Faizan, and Security Incharge Abid Shah, along with four absconding suspects, Dhoni, Tariq Mughal, Hanif Japanwala and Shahid, in the charge-sheet.

He stated that neither was there any smoke or fire alarm nor any emergency exit in the building, which was also admitted by suspects Shah and Sultan. "It is evident that due to the negligence of the RJ Mall management, 11 people lost their lives and five others were injured. If there had been a smoke and fire alarm, and emergency exit in the mall, the loss of lives could have been [prevented]," he concluded.

He maintained that the chief fire officer's report also mentioned the absence of emergency exit and other equipment in the building, which was criminal negligence on part of the mall owner and administration leading to the loss of lives.

IO Meo said the elevator was closed shortly after the fire broke out in the mall, as a result of which people who boarded the elevator to save their lives ended up losing their lives inside it.

It transpired during the investigation that in June 2023, a fine was imposed on the mall for unauthorised construction, which its owner, Dhoni, had paid, he added.

The IO said the Cantonment Board Faisal's report stated that the building was not issued a completion plan due to it being incomplete.

He said that Imran and Adnan in their statements said that they had purchased the entire fourth floor of the mall where a software firm was located and paid Rs1.4 million maintenance every month to the mall administration but the floor had no fire or smoke alarm, or emergency exit.

The IO stated CCTV footage revealed that the fire started in the food court on the second floor and quickly spread. Further investigation brought to light that the food court was set up by Hanif Japanwala, the brother of the late owner of the mall, Rafiq Japanwala. Hanif has been on the run since the day of the incident. During the investigation, the IO mentioned Faizan told police that he worked as the mall's GM and was appointed by Dhoni to handle the accounts matters and was asked to pull the mall out of crisis, while the issues related to K-Electric, cantonment board, water and civil works were managed by Tariq Mughal.

The IO said reports of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), K-Electric, and an NED expert who inspected the mall were yet to be received. He said the RJ Mall owner's son Hassan, Yawar and Hashir were arrested on December 8 for secretly entering the sealed mall to sabotage evidence and a DVR was recovered from their possession. Hence, he added the Section 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to screen offender) of the Pakistan Penal Code in the case.

He said samples of burnt wires and other material were sent for a forensic analysis and reports were not yet received.