Traders suspect arson: 100 shops burnt in Empress Market

KARACHI, March 27: Dozens of shops in the city`s historical monument of Empress Market were reduced to ashes and several others were damaged in a fire that broke out in the early hours of Sunday. No casualty was reported. While the fire department of the city government suspected that a short circuit caused the fire, a trader association believed it was an arson attack. "At least 46 shops of dried fruit, grocery, fruit and vegetables have been destroyed in the fire and 55 others partially burnt," said Ehteshamuddin, the chief fire officer of the city government. He said the fire also affected wooden roof of the British-era building. "Soon after a report was received at the Saddar Fire Station about the blaze, it was declared a Stage-III fire," he said. Subsequently, he added, all fire tenders and related equipment from across the city were called in to douse the fire. The CFO said firefighters struggled for around two hours to finally put out the fire. It was learnt that when the fire erupted and its flames engulfed some parts of the building, it remained unattended for some time until a hotel owner reported the matter to the Saddar fire station that abuts on the Empress Market. Asked about the cause of the fire, the CFO said: "It can be assumed that a short circuit caused the fire but nothing can be said with surety." However, an association of the shopkeepers ruled out any possibility of short circuit, saying that it was an arson attack. "It was a pre-planned arson attack," said chairman of the All Empress Market Association Abdul Bari Kakar. Arguing that a little before the fire broke out power supply went off for around 10 minutes, he said: "In this situation, how can there be a short circuit." He reiterated that it was a pre-planned arson attack as shops were closed. According to him, as many as 108 shops have been destroyed in the fire and shopkeepers have suffered losses to the tune of millions of rupees. He said Sindh IT Minister Raza Haroon along with District Coordination Officer Mohammad Hussain Syed later visited the Empress Market. The DCO constituted a four-member inquiry committee to find the cause of the fire, Mr Kakar added. No FIR of the incident was lodged at the Preedy police station till the filing of this report, a police official said, adding that the investigation officer was still at the scene.