Significant progress has been made in the process of handing over bodies and remains of victims killed in the devastating fire that broke out at Gul Plaza on January 17, located on M.A. Jinnah Road, Karachi.
According to a private television report, the identification of the remains of 12 more victims of the Gul Plaza tragedy has been completed, after which their remains were formally handed over to their families following legal procedures.
Sources from the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee said that anti-mortem data helped identify victims, including Khizar Ali, Haider Ali, Aamir Ali, Abu Bakar, Yaseen, Sadaqatullah, Yousaf Khan, Naimatullah, and Abdullah. After completing the identification process, the remains of these 12 individuals were officially released to their families from the Edhi mortuary.
CPLC officials stated that identification was carried out using ante-mortem data along with proof-of-presence records available from Gul Plaza. They added that three members of a family who had come from North Nazimabad for shopping were also identified, including Umar Nabeel, his wife, Dr. Ayesha, and their son Ali.
Officials clarified that DNA results could not be obtained from some severely damaged samples, which caused difficulties in the identification process. However, two additional bodies were identified through personal belongings such as a wristwatch, ring, wallet, and other items. These victims were identified as shopkeeper Abu Bakar and his employee Aamir, whose identification was confirmed by Abu Bakar’s son, Taj.
Authorities further confirmed the identification of three members of the same family, Naimatullah, Abdullah, and Yousaf Khan, whose bodies were verified through DNA testing. Naimatullah and Abdullah were brothers, while Yousaf Khan was their cousin.
Sources said that so far, the identities of 39 victims of the Gul Plaza tragedy have been confirmed. Among them, 20 were identified through DNA testing, six through facial recognition, and one through an identity card, while a total of 79 people lost their lives in the incident.
