2026.1.18 What we know so far about Gul Plaza fire in Karachi
At least six people die in blaze as rescue teams and firefighters continue efforts to bring it under control, say officials
Sindh Inspector General of Police Javed Alam Odho said on Sunday that the fire which erupted at the Gul Plaza shopping mall on Karachi’s MA Jinnah Road was likely caused by an accidental short circuit.
At least six people have died in the blaze, while rescue teams and firefighters continue working to bring it under control, officials said.
Speaking to the media at the incident site, IG Odho said the fire erupted at around 10:45pm on Saturday and has caused significant damage to the plaza, which houses nearly 1,200 shops and includes a basement.
“Once the fire is fully extinguished and the cooling period is complete, we will allow only rescue teams inside. Following that, as the situation improves, we will launch a formal inquiry to determine the exact cause of the fire, which currently appears to be an accidental short circuit,” he said.
ISLAMABAD: A local court on Saturday reissued arrest warrants for Iman Mazari and her husband Hadi Ali Chatha in the controversial tweets case after rejecting a defence request to return the warrants and suspend orders cancelling their bail.
During the hearing, the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majuka also directed the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) and DIG Operations to arrest the accused and present them before the court. The hearing was adjourned until Monday.
Prosecutor Rana Usman, Federal Police DSP Legal Naeem, Defence Counsel Riyasat Ali Azad, and others appeared before the court. The judge initially sought a report from the NCCIA regarding execution of the arrest warrants. Upon resumption of proceedings, the court was informed that the warrants could not be executed. Defence counsel Riyasat Ali Azad submitted that Iman Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatha were willing to surrender before the court and requested that the arrest orders be suspended, with permission granted for their appearance via video link. He termed it an “innocent request” aimed at facilitating their appearance.
However, Judge Majuka observed that a statement under Section 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code could be recorded even in the absence of the accused. After hearing arguments, the court briefly adjourned proceedings and, upon resumption, rejected the defence request to suspend the bail cancellation order.
The judge ruled that the court could not suspend its decision and formally reissued arrest warrants for both accused. A questionnaire under Section 342 was handed over to defence counsel.
The court then adjourned further proceedings in the case until Monday.
2026.1.17 Lahore TikToker arrested for playing vulgar song on road while making video
LAHORE – Police in Lahore have arrested a TikTok user for playing an obscene song at high volume on a main road while filming a video.
The incident occurred on Kasur Road, where the accused, identified as Jaffer, was seen blasting the vulgar song from his vehicle.
The accused, operating under the TikTok ID “Mental Munday,” was apprehended by police, who acted swiftly in taking action.
A case has been registered against him, and authorities have made it clear that they will take strict action against those violating the law.
Police have stated that anyone engaging in such unlawful activities will face serious consequences.
Last year in September, police in Nawab Town arrested car driver for playing music at high volume, citing a violation of the Punjab Sound Systems (Regulation) Act, 2015.
The incident came to public attention after FIR surfaced online, sparking criticism from users who described the action as unnecessary and an infringement on personal privacy.
According to ASI Rahmat Ali, officers had set up a checkpoint on Abdul Sattar Edhi Road to apprehend a wanted criminal. During the operation, they stopped a car playing the Punjabi song “Chanjar Di Pawan Chankar” loudly.
The driver, identified as Danish Ali from Firdaus Market, Gulberg, admitted that he often played loud music while driving, flaunting it as his hobby.
ASI Rahmat Ali stated that the driver had breached Section 6 of the Punjab Sound Systems (Regulation) Act, 2015. The vehicle was seized, and Danish Ali was arrested under the applicable law.
2026.1.17 Suspect accused by police of abusing ‘over 100 children’ arrested in Karachi
Police link seven registered cases over five years to the suspect through forensic review
CCTV and geo-fencing helped trace prime suspect and his accomplice, leading to arrests
ISLAMABAD: Karachi police said on Saturday they arrested a suspect accused of sexually abusing “over 100 children,” describing the case as a major breakthrough in a long-running investigation, while official records examined so far document seven registered cases linked to the accused.
In a statement issued on Friday, the office of the Additional Inspector General of Police (IGP) Karachi said the arrest of the suspect and his accomplice was a significant achievement, praising the police for taking action after identifying a pattern across multiple cases reported over several years.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Investigation for Karachi’s East district, Muhammad Usman Sadozai, said police began connecting the cases after receiving a letter from a DNA laboratory detailing seven cases of sexual abuse involving minor boys reported between 2020 and 2025, all allegedly linked to the same perpetrator.
“When we examined the letter further, a clear pattern emerged across all seven cases,” Sadozai told Arab News over the phone, adding that the incidents occurred between 6 p.m. and midnight, mostly on weekends, and involved children being lured to the banks of the Malir River.
Police said CCTV footage and geo-fencing were used to trace the movements of the prime suspect and his accomplice, leading to their arrest. Three of the affected children have identified the suspects, according to investigators.
The victims are aged between 10 and 14, Sadozai said.
While the Additional IGP’s office described the suspect as being involved in the abuse of over 100 children, police records reviewed so far show that seven first information reports (FIRs) have been registered over the past five years at police stations including Sharafi Goth, Zaman Town, Qur’angi Industrial Area, Mehmoodabad and Defense.
All the FIRs invoke Section 377 of the Pakistan Penal Code, which deals with “unnatural offenses,” according to an order dated Jan. 6 establishing a special investigation team. Some cases also include additional charges such as kidnapping, criminal intimidation, bodily injury and attempted commission of an offense, reflecting varying levels of severity.
The Additional IGP said the protection of children was a top priority and vowed that those involved in such crimes would face the strictest punishment under the law, announcing commendation certificates and cash rewards for the police team involved.
2026.1.12 Court declares Khadija Shah, three others proclaimed offenders in May 9 case
LAHORE – A Lahore court has declared four absconding accused, including Khadija Shah, daughter of former finance minister Salman Shah, as proclaimed offenders in the May 9 Askari Tower attack case.
According to reports, the proceedings were conducted by Administrative Judge of the Anti-Terrorism Court, Manzar Ali Gul. The court issued permanent arrest warrants for Khadija Shah, Hamza Sohail, Usman Aslam, and Ahmad Marsaleen.
The court also issued non-bailable arrest warrants for the accused Zain-ul-Hassan and initiated proceedings to declare him a proclaimed offender. The accused were not appearing before the court for the main trial in the Askari Tower attack case.
The state prosecutor told the court that Khadija Shah had gone into hiding after being convicted in another May 9 case. He added that Khadija Shah and the other accused were avoiding court appearances out of fear of arrest.
Despite being granted time to appear, they failed to do so, and did not appear even after the issuance of arrest warrants.
RAWALPINDI – Police have arrested a student of the Arid Agriculture University in Rawalpindi for allegedly raping his class fellow for multiple times on pretext of marriage promises.
The Shams Colony police took action after the alleged victim filed a First Information Report (FIR) against the suspect, identified as Faizan, following her distress over the ongoing blackmailing.
In her complaint, the victim said she and the suspect both were class fellows, adding that Faizan had promised to marry her.
“One day, he took me to a flat, B-406, in the Gulberg Green area, where he raped me and secretly filmed the incident using hidden cameras. He later began blackmailing me, threatening to make the videos public unless I met him whenever he demanded,” she stated in her complaint.
The victim visited the flat multiple times due to blackmailing where Faizan raped her. She revealed the suspect also sexually assaulted her in the car.
Taking action on the complaint, the Islamabad police have arrested the suspect and confiscated his car, laptop and mobile phone.
An investigation has also been launched into the matter.
2026.1.4 Karachi quadruple murder suspect apprehended
KARACHI – Police on Saturday night claimed to have arrested main suspect in connection with the murder of four people.
On the second day of the New Year, authorities in Karachi had discovered four bodies, including two women, a man, and a child.
The gruesome find was made near Mai Kolachi Phatak, where the bodies were retrieved from a manhole.
The suspect identified as Masroor Hussain has confessed to the quadruple murder, police said, adding the accused was in contact with a woman found murdered among the four people. He told the police he was upset to see the deceased woman making amulets ‘Taviz Ganday’, adding her practice caused him to suffer from severe mental stress.
Fed up with the amulet issue, I killed the woman and her three children, the suspect revealed.
She was identified as Aneela, and stated to be the mother of other three persons whose bodies were found in the manhole. Further investigation was underway.
On Friday, rescue volunteers from Edhi, along with police, extracted the bodies and transferred them to a nearby hospital.
Police Surgeon Dr Samia Syed has confirmed that the bodies of four individuals recovered from a manhole near Mai Kolachi Road showed clear signs of torture, according to initial medico-legal examinations conducted at Dr Ruth K. M. Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi.
Dr Samia said initial autopsies of all four victims have been completed and indicated that the bodies were several days old.
According to preliminary findings, a boy aged approximately 13 to 14 years sustained visible injuries to his head, face, and neck, suggesting torture.
Another victim, a boy believed to be around 10 years old, was found with severe injuries to the neck.
A third victim, a girl aged between 14 and 15 years, also showed signs of torture on her head, face, and neck.
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