SHC orders Baldia factory fire trial to be completed within one year

The factory owner has agreed to become a respondent in the case

KARACHI: Sindh High Court on Tuesday ordered for the Baldia factory fire trial to be completed within one year.

The factory owner had put forward an appeal for the trial to be completed before one year, however his request was turned down by the judges. Judges further observed that it was up to the trial court to scrutinise the JIT report.

The factory owner had also requested to become a respondent in the case following the release of the release of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) report.

Reports have also disclosed that there is a case of illegal arms against the suspect Rizwan Qureshi  who had disclosed alleged involvement of the MQM in the incident during interrogation.

Rangers had submitted the JIT report before the Sindh High Court on February 6, which claimed that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) was responsible for the fire which claimed the lives of at least 258 factory workers in Karachi's Baldia Town area.



RELATED: Baldia factory fire: Govt asked to take action after JIT report



MQM's chief Altaf Hussain, however, called for a foreign investigation into the incident and said that the entire party could not be blamed for an individual's alleged act.



RELATED: MQM chief wants foreign investigation into Baldia factory fire