Baldia factory fire case: ATC rejects Rehman Bhola's bail plea

Decision regarding inclusion of Rauf Siddiqui as suspect in the case deferred


The ATC remarked that there was evidence against Bhola regarding his possible involvement in the Baldia factory fire. PHOTO: FILE

KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) rejected on Wednesday the bail plea of Abdur Rehman alias Bhola, the prime suspect in the Baldia factory fire case.

During the hearing of bail plea, the ATC remarked that there was evidence against Bhola regarding his possible involvement in the Baldia factory fire. The court declared that Bhola could not be released until the trial was completed against him. The court also dismissed the bail application of Ali Hasan Qadri, another suspect in the case.

According to a joint investigation team (JIT) report concerning the Baldia factory fire, a Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) worker, Rizwan Qureshi, confessed to setting the garment factory owned by Ali Enterprises on fire in collusion with Bhola and others on the orders of MQM leader Hammad Siddiqui. Qureshi also reportedly confessed that the factory was set afire for non-payment of extortion.

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The JIT report was presented before the court during Wednesday’s hearing after which the ATC rejected Bhola’s bail plea.

Earlier, Bhola also had made confession of his involvement in the fire before an investigation officer. However, during the hearing on December 30, he retracted from his confession, claiming that he had been forced to admit his involvement in the crime and that he was innocent.

Order on plea regarding inclusion of MQM leader Rauf Siddiqui as suspect in the case was deferred till January 6.

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