SHC summons KMC officer, Sindh lawyer

Factory owner, manager charged with intentional murder granted interim bail

KARACHI:

Hearing a petition seeking a probe into the Mehran Town factory fire, the Sindh High Court summoned on Friday the Sindh advocate-general and a senior officer of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) to explain who was responsible for the incident.

A two-member bench, led by SHC Chief Justice Ahmed Ali Shaikh and comprising Justice Yousuf Ali Sayeed, was hearing the petition, which held the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), the Karachi Development Authority (KDA) and the KMC responsible for the blaze that killed 16 workers.

“Who is responsible for this incident? How can such incidents be prevented?” remarked the bench, irked at the provincial government, its regulatory bodies and the district authorities.

The petitioner has accused the KDA, KMC and SBCA of negligence, which led to an incident that claimed 16 workers’ lives. The petitioner informed the court that there were no emergency exits in the building. The labourers ran to the roof to save their lives but the doors were locked, he said, adding that the courts have already directed the city administration to ensure fire safety and prevention measures.

The petitioner contended that the relevant SSPs were responsible for such industries being operational and argued that the government institutions were involved in supporting substandard factories.

The court summoned a senior officer of the KMC and the Sindh advocate-general at the next hearing, directing them to come prepared with their stances.

Bail granted

Meanwhile, a district and sessions court granted interim bail to the Mehran Town factory owner, Ali Mehta, and its manager, Faisal Tariq.

The East district court heard the bail applications.

The defence counsel maintained that the fire was sparked because of a short circuit and that the factory was set up after obtaining approval from the authorities and completing legal requirements. He argued that delay by the fire department led to the loss of 16 workers’ lives. The defence counsel informed the court that his clients were willing to face trial.

The court granted interim bail to both the accused against surety bonds of Rs500,000 each.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 4^th, 2021.