RJ Mall fire investigation almost complete: East Zone DIG

The investigation into the RJ Mall fire has almost been completed, and it would be concluded within the next two or three days, East Zone police chief DIG Capt. (retd) Ghulam Azfar Mahesar said on Saturday.

“The findings of the technical committee are almost complete. Currently, we are analysing the DVRs, and we have enlisted the expertise of NED University experts, who are authorities in their respective subjects. They are professors, and we will base our inquiry on their opinions as we move forward.”

DIG Mahesar said that opening the mall without any advice may cause further damage. He said the FIR was registered based on the first information received. “Some people have been arrested in this case who were involved in the mall activities. The mall falls within cantonment limits and documentation has been requested from the cantonment board.

“We are not against any institution and we have not arrested any employee of any institution in this matter, and we have even appreciated their work. The purpose of the FIR is to take action against those involved.”

The officer made these remarks while talking to the media during a lunch organised by the East Zone police to honour the families of police martyrs at a restaurant. A large number of families of the martyrs participated in the event.

District East police chief SSP Irfan Bahadur and District East Investigation SSP Saud Magsi were also present on the occasion. Police officers met with the families of the martyrs and presented them gifts.

“We pay tribute to the sacrifices of our martyrs,” said Mahesar. “We are always with the families of our martyrs. Today will be spent with the families of the martyrs.” He said that the purpose of the event was to listen to the issues of the families of the martyrs and find solutions, adding that there is a need to digitise the process of aiding the families of the martyrs.

“I strive to bring the daughters of the martyrs into the police force. We never forget our martyrs, and we let them know that we are with them. Police martyrs are a source of pride for us, and a WhatsApp group has been created for all martyrs,” said the DIG.

“Home is the most important in the basic needs of a person, as in Punjab the martyrs’ families receive homes,” he pointed out, saying that now a policy has been formulated to provide martyrs’ families home funds.

“We have police land available in Surjani Town, while in Malir, work on a piece of land is under way in collaboration with the MDA [Malir Development Authority].” Eleven people lost their lives and about half a dozen others were injured when a major fire broke out at the RJ Mall on Rashid Minhas Road in the early hours of November 25. The six-storey building housed a shopping centre, call centres and software houses where the fire broke out at around 6:30am.