One killed, two injured in MM Alam Road fire

–Sources say fire appears as deliberate attempt to destroy business agreement records of Shehbaz Sharif’s son-in-law with Saaf Paani Company

LAHORE: One person was killed while two others were reportedly injured after a fire broke out at a shopping mall located on MM Alam Road on Saturday.

According to the details, the fire erupted at a restaurant in the basement of Ali Towers, trapping at least 50 people in stores and residential apartments on different floors.

As many as three people sustained injuries after jumping off from the building in a bid to escape the fire. One of them, identified as Akram, succumbed to his injuries.

The fire brigade personnel doused off the blaze after almost an hour-long efforts, rescue sources said. They added that seven fire tenders took part in the operation and the personnel entered the affected building through an adjacent building.

Punjab Information Minister Fayyazul Hasan Chohan also reached the site of the incident and said that no casualties were confirmed by the rescue personnel.  “Every single person was rescued from the building,” the provincial information minister said while briefing the media.

“The plaza is owned by former Punjab CM Shehbaz Sharif’s son-in-law, Imran Ali Yousaf. Investigations are underway on the cause of the fire,” Chohan added.

CONTROVERSY:

Meanwhile, sources said that the fire appears as a deliberate attempt to destroy the records of Imran’s business agreement with the notorious Saaf Paani Company.

Like the former Punjab CM and his son Hamza Shehbaz, Imran is also in the dock in the Saaf Paani case. The National Accountancy Bureau had grilled Imran for renting out an office to the Saaf Pani Company in November at an annual rent of over Rs28 million, which the anti-graft watchdog believed was exorbitant as compared to the market rate.

Imran is also accused of having Rs120m deposited to his bank account from the account of the Punjab Power Development Company (PPDC). Besides, an investigation against him is also underway for possessing assets beyond known sources of income.

In December 2017, the NAB had launched a thorough probe into the affairs of 56 public sector companies formed by the Shehbaz administration in Punjab for their alleged involvement in corruption. The companies are accused of certain irregularities, recruitment in violation of procurement rules and merit, nepotism, and non-completion of various projects in time.

There has been a lack of performance and regular audit and non-transparent procedure of tendering in these companies which were under direct supervision of CM Shehbaz.