Baldia factory fire case: Judge unhappy with ‘non-serious’ attitude of authorities

IO told to inform court at next hearing if the case is being re-lodged or charge sheet will be submitted

KARACHI: A sessions court sought on Saturday comments from the police over proceedings of the Baldia factory fire case, with the judge expressing his displeasure at the 'non-serious' attitude of the authorities towards the case.

District West judge Maqbool Memon directed the investigating officer (IO), sub-inspector Jahanzaib, to inform the court at the next hearing on July 11 whether or not the authorities were re-lodging the case or submitting a supplementary charge sheet.

The direction came after the IO told the judge that the joint investigation team's (JIT) report was with the home department and the police had recommended the re-registration of the case under the Anti-Terrorism Act. In the JIT report that surfaced recently, the factory fire was termed a planned terrorist activity with the alleged involvement of some Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) men.



On March 5 this year, a summary of this report was submitted in the court. Until today, no proceedings have taken place in the case. During the hearing, the judge remarked that the authorities were exhibiting a 'non-serious' attitude towards the case.

The IO, while submitting his response in the court, revealed that a copy of the JIT had been misplaced, to which the judge asked 'who is responsible for this now'. When those who are responsible for this will submit their statements, the whole matter will change once again, the judge added, referring to the investigations report submitted in the case so far.

Meanwhile, the guarantor of an absconder, Mansoor (the factory manager), appeared before the court and told the judge that the suspect was on the run and he could not find him. After listening to him, the judge once again issued non-bailable warrants for the suspect and directed the police to expedite the hunt.

More than 250 people were burnt to death in the blaze that erupted at Ali Enterprises garment factory, dubbed as Baldia factory, on September 11, 2012. The trial of the case, however, has yet to be initiated.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 29^th, 2016.