Hammad Siddiqui will be given ‘clean chit’ soon, predicts MQM leader

His arrest has been termed a ‘breakthrough’ by investigators in the Baldia fire case

KARACHI: Startling revelations about the deadliest factory fire to hit the city are likely to surface in the coming days as Hammad Siddiqui, arguably the prime accused, has been arrested in the United Arab Emirates with the help of Interpol.

Siddiqui was once considered a symbol of terror in Karachi’s underworld. He remained a symbol of terror between 2008 and 2013 and was the longest serving head of the Tanzeemi Committee, a very important and influential body of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM). His role was said to be instrumental in expanding the party’s influence in Karachi.

Siddiqui was sacked on May 21, 2013 when party founder Altaf Hussain decided to dissolve the committee for violating party rules. He left for Dubai shortly after.

On December 19, 2016 Rehman Bhola appeared before the anti-terrorism court. He confessed that Siddiqui allegedly sought extortion and shares in the Ali Enterprises factory in Baldia Town and, upon refusal, decided to punish them. After the hearing, the ATC also issued red warrants for Siddiqui. The authority sought Interpol’s aid in arrested Hammad and bringing him back to the country for further investigations and legal proceedings.



"Hammad Siddiqui is not a Pak Sarzameen Party [PSP] worker. We do, however, believe that he is not involved in the Baldia factory fire," PSP Spokesperson Wasim Aftab told The Express Tribune.

"Creating hype about each and every case of a high-profile suspect and involving a 'weak man' in that case is very usual in Pakistan," he lamented, adding that the PSP fully supports the claims of the heirs of the factory fire and wants justice for them.

"Those involved in the fire should be punished according to the law, even if Hammad Siddiqui is involved," said Aftab. While replying to a question, he said that Siddiqui is far junior to the senior PSP leaders and had no involvement in the formation of the party. The spokesperson said the decision to welcome Siddiqui in the party’s fold would be made after he is acquitted by the court. "Farooq [Sattar] bhai has a dry-cleaning factory but we don’t and the night of August 22 is an example of this," he explained.

Sources in Dubai told The Express Tribune that Siddiqui remains in the custody of the Dubai police, who have detained him at their headquarters. "Interpol, in collaboration with the Dubai police, arrested him on the directives of the Pakistani authorities as his red warrants had already been issued," explained a source. He said that according to the law, Siddiqui will remain in the Dubai police’s custody. "Shifting him to Karachi through proper channels will take almost 60 days as it includes identification, the court process, warrants and handing over," he explained. "But let’s see what the Pakistani government does over the matter and whether it uses proper legal process or diplomatic channels to bring him back.” If the government uses diplomatic channels Siddiqui should be back in the city within a few days.



He explained that Siddiqui's passport was renewed in 2014 through the Pakistani consulate in the United Arab Emirates and was valid till 2019. However, it was blocked in 2015, he revealed, adding that at least one more man was also reportedly taken into the custody during the raid in which Siddiqui was arrested.

MQM-Pakistan has also vowed to bring the Baldia factory fire suspects to justice. "The suspects involved in the Baldia factory fire or the May 12 carnage should be punished with iron hands," said senior MQM-Pakistan senior leader Aminul Haq. "Siddiqui was kicked out of the party in 2013 and since then he has had no links to the party."

Siddiqui's arrest has also created a perception amongst the MQM factions that he is being brought to Karachi to get a clean chit. "Those involved in giving clean chits to hundreds of others who have now joined the PSP are also trying to bring him back to join the party," said a leader of MQM-London. "Siddiqui is the only person who can control the multiple chains on the criminals [PSP workers]. In one, two or maximum three months, you will see that Siddiqui will get a clean chit as well as a good position in the PSP," he predicted.

Police investigators probing the Baldia factory fire termed Siddiqui's arrest a major achievement. "Rehman Bhola and Zubair Charya were already arrested but now Siddiqui's arrest is a major breakthrough for investigators," explained a senior police investigator privy to the joint investigation team. "Besides forensic evidence, we already have a confessional statement of Rehman Bhola as well as the factory owners' statements that will help us end this case."



He said that after arriving in the city, Siddiqui would be produced before an anti-terrorism court where he would definitely deny the allegations against him. "His denial would prompt investigators to prove the allegations against him to make the case stronger," he explained.

Being a student of the University of Karachi, Siddiqui had been affiliated with the All Pakistan Muttahida Students Organisation (APSMO), a student wing of the MQM. After APMSO, he became a worker of the MQM and then a member of the Tanzeemi Committee and finally served as the committee’s chief in 2008.

"H reshuffled the entire setup at all the sector and unit offices of the party and replaced the old incharges with [his confidants]," explained a senior party worker. "Though the Tanzeemi Committee's role in the party was to run the political affairs at ground level and play a mediator between ground level workers and top leaders of the party, Siddiqui gradually planted his men and captured the entire committee and set up a militant wing,” revealed the party worker.

District West Investigations SSP Zeeshan Siddiqui said that Siddiqui has been arrested on the basis of the red warrant issued against him. "There is no clear direction about how and when he will be brought back to Karachi," he said. "Hammad is a proclaimed offender and he will be in our custody when he is brought back to the country.”

SSP Siddiqui said the formation of a special team to bring the suspect back to the country is unnecessary in every case.