Court rejects bail pleas of eight suspects in RJ Mall fire case

A sessions court on Thursday dismissed post-arrest bail applications of eight suspects held in a case pertaining to the November 25 fire at a shopping mall on Rashid Minhas Road that resulted in the deaths of 11 people.

Eight suspects — builder and owner of RJ Shopping Mall Arif Dhoni's son Hassan Dhoni, administrators Sultan and Faizan, security-in-charge Abid Shah, owners of a software firm Imran and Adnan, two other suspects — Hashir and Yawar — moved applications through their attorneys seeking post arrest bail.

Additional District and Sessions Judge (East) Usman Ahmed Khan pronounced his order that was reserved earlier after concluding of arguments from the defence and prosecution lawyers. According to prosecution, the eight detained suspects, along with four absconding suspects, including Arif Dhoni, Tariq Mughal, Hanif Japanwala and Shahid, have been charge-sheeted for manslaughter and negligent conduct that allegedly caused death of 11 people and injuries to several others. Hassan, Yawar and Hashir have been accused of sabotaging crucial evidence linked with the incident.

The state prosecutor contended that the building lacked emergency exit, fire alarm and other equipment, which was criminal negligence of the mall owner and administration leading to the loss of lives.

An FIR was lodged at the Shahrah-e-Faisal police station under Sections 322 (manslaughter), 436 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house), 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees), 288 (negligent conduct with respect to pulling down or repairing buildings) and 285 (negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter) of the Pakistan Penal Code.