Plea challenges acquittal in Baldia factory fire case

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Tuesday issued notices to the special public prosecutor on an appeal against the acquittal of four accused in the Baldia factory fire case.

A two-member SHC bench, headed by Justice KK Agha, also issued notices over the death sentence awarded to two accused, Abdur Rehman alias Bhola and Muhammad Zubair alias Chariya.

On September 11, 2012, more than 260 workers were burnt alive in the multi-storey building of the Ali Enterprises garment factory in Baldia Town in what was one of the worst industrial disasters in the country's history. Later it turned out that the fire was in fact an arson attack by extortionists who had been demanding protection money from the owners.

Appearing before the SHC bench, the lawyer of the convicts, Sarmad Khan Advocate, presented a list of 400 witnesses, including 347 public and private witnesses, before the bench. He argued that it was necessary to cross-examine the statements of another 53 witnesses related to the case. The judges remarked that they were under the impression that the case would be disposed of soon but it was getting confusing instead. They ordered that the final list of witnesses should be prepared in consultation with the prosecutor. Justice KK Agha asked where were the accused who had been acquitted.

Their counsel, Hassan Saber Advocate, said that they were present in court and he would plead on their behalf.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 29^th, 2023.