Another witness identifies prime accused in Baldia factory fire

The court summoned more witnesses on the next hearing

KARACHI: A special anti-terrorism court (ATC) recorded the statement of the prime Joint Investigation Team (JIT) witness, Abdullah, in the Baldia factory fire case and summoned more witnesses on April 18. The hearing took place at the anti-terrorism complex in Karachi Central Jail on Monday.

The witness identified the prime accused of the case, Rehman Bhola and stated that he used to go to factories with him. The special public prosecutor, Sajid Mehboob Sheikh, presented the JIT witness, who said in his statement he was an employee of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board and was appointed through the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM). "I worked in the unit but later was appointed as assistant to sector in-charge,' he said, adding that he used to take Rehman Bhola to factories, where he used to give extortion chits. "In 2012, during Ramazan, Rehman Bhola gave a Rs25,000 chit to me to give to the Ali Enterprises. He called the general manager of the factory and informed him of sending the chit. The general manager, taking Rs25,000 from Arshad Bhaila, gave it to Majid Baig."



Special public prosecutor said that Majid Baig had recorded in this statement that he had deposited Rs25,000 in the sector's office.

The court summoned more witnesses and adjourned the hearing. 

Published in The Express Tribune, April 16^th, 2019.