The recent judicial inquiry into the tragic Gul Plaza fire in Karachi has revealed serious deficiencies in the emergency response that led to the loss of 33 lives. During a session on February 17, 2026, 23 relatives of the victims testified about the chaotic rescue efforts, highlighting that firefighters arrived late and were ill-equipped. One witness, Haleem, recounted, "Firefighters faced a water shortage while the building’s electricity was switched off shortly after the fire broke out," indicating a dire lack of preparedness. Another victim's family member, Mohammad Hanif, stated, "Rescue officials made no efforts to break the walls and windows to rescue the people," underscoring the inadequacy of the response. The fire, which erupted on January 17, raged for over 32 hours, exacerbating the tragedy as many victims were trapped inside the building due to blocked exits and a lack of effective rescue operations.