The Sindh High Court on Monday directed the chief secretary to ensure that relevant teams inspected all shopping malls in the city in order to make certain their safety standards.
Justice Mohammad Karim Khan Agha of the SHC expressed resentment over a number of fire incidents that recently took place at different commercial malls/buildings.
The court was hearing the bail applications of suspects in a case pertaining to the fire in the RJ Shopping Mall that had claimed 11 lives.
The bench deplored that the alleged criminal negligence of K-Electric and Sindh Building Control Authority had hardly been investigated in the case.
The judge ordered the removal of the investigating officer of the case, Sharif Meo, and asked police high-ups to immediately appoint a new IO not below the rank of a SSP to carry out and complete the investigation as per the FIR and proceed in accordance with law.
It also noted that the present incident took place in the early hours of the morning when the shopping mall was closed and had the incident taken place in the evening, the loss of life would probably have been catastrophic.
The bench granted bail to suspects Abid Shah, Sultan Saleem, Faizan Raza, Mohammad Ramzan, Adnan, Hassan Doni, Hashir and Yawar and observed that none of them had any role in starting fire or negligence in allowing the fire to break out, which as per FIR was potentially on account of short circuit.
The prosecution said that at least 11 people died while five others were injured after a blaze erupted inside the R.J. Shopping Mall in the early hours of Nov 25 because of a suspected short circuit.
