An 11-year-old boy, Huzaifa, is set to be tried in a juvenile court for allegedly igniting a fire at the Gul Plaza Shopping Centre in Karachi on January 17, 2026, which resulted in the deaths of 72 people.

The charge sheet filed by the investigating officer (IO) highlights negligence in fire safety protocols, including locked exits, lack of fire extinguishers, and failure to evacuate.Huzaifa's father, Naimatullah, is also implicated for allowing his underage son to operate the shop alone.The IO named six individuals, including four members of the management committee and the shop owner, as accused.Prosecutors initially requested the inclusion of a judicial commission's report but were overruled.The case also points to systemic failures, such as delayed emergency responses and lack of safety measures.The charge sheet includes multiple sections of the Pakistan Penal Code, including negligent conduct and manslaughter.The trial underscores legal and safety lapses that contributed to the disaster.