*KARACHI: Important files and evidence of criminal trials and various caseswas destroyed in fire that recently broke out in Mal Khana of the citycourt in the early hours of Wednesday.*

Police while investigating the matter is still not sure of the exact causeof the “mysterious fire”. The Karachi Bar Association (KBA) has demanded ajudicial inquiry into the fire incident that will no doubt benefit theaccused parties.

The cases of prosecution would suffer irreparable damage in the absence ofthe case files destroyed in the blaze.

Police skeptical about the cause has called upon the Army bomb experts tofurther help with the investigation.

According to DIG South Azad Khan, the fire erupted at around 1:30 am insidea sealed room of the Mal Khana but the security stationed at the spotnoticed it at 2:30 am when they smelled something burning in the room. Theyimmediately informed the fire brigade, which sent a fire tender afterreceiving the call at 2:31 am.

Upon arrival, the firefighters figured that more resources will be neededto extinguish the blaze and called in more fire tenders from across thecity. The fire engines of the Karachi Port Trust and Pakistan Navy alsotook part in the firefighting effort.

Small explosions inside the building spread panic in the surrounding areafor which the bomb disposal squad (BDS) was also summoned. The BDSofficials explained that the explosions occurred because of the livebullets kept in the Mal Khana went off due to the fire.

Around 6:55 am 24 fire tenders managed to control the blaze and the processof cooling work continued till late in the evening.

A police team led by DIG Azad Khan along with army experts, Rangers, andother officials visited the scene.

“A forensic examination would be conducted by two teams of experts as thepolice has sought help from the Punjab Forensic Agency along with forensicexperts from Sindh,” DIG Khan said.