Labourers’ deaths: Police yet to trace factory owner

The ill-fated families said the government should conduct an inquiry into the incident and demanded compensation

KARACHI:
A day after five labourers died at a plastic manufacturing factory during cleaning work, police have failed to trace and arrest the factory owner who reportedly ordered the cleaning.

A total of six labourers, including two factory employees, fell unconscious while cleaning a chemical tank of the factory in Korangi Industrial Area on Sunday. They were taken to the hospital but five of them died on the way.


“I have lost my son and my grandsons lost their father,” said Abdul Kalam, the father of one of the victims, Abdul Rahim, who was sent to the factory to clean its chemical tank for Rs800.

The ill-fated families said the government should conduct an inquiry into the incident and demanded compensation. Even though Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah has directed the labour secretary to submit a detailed report within three days with a recommendation of action against the factory management, investigators have yet to trace and arrest the factory owner. “The owner is untraceable so far as no one knows his exact residence,” said investigation officer Aslam Solangi.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 17th, 2016.
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