Baldia factory fire: Investigation officer submits written apology in court
IO Jahanzaib Khan also submitts list of 1043 witnesses, instead of list of 950 witnesses submitted earlier
Rangers to name suspects and the political party responsible. PHOTO: AFP
KARACHI:
The investigation officer for the Baldia factory fire case submitted on Saturday a written apology in the district and sessions court for failing to appear during the last hearing.
The inferno at Ali Enterprises garment factory claimed the lives of 259 people on September 11, 2012.
The court had issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Investigation Officer Inspector Jahanzaib Khan for not appearing in court.
Read: Baldia factory fire: Court issues arrest warrant against investigation officer
After having his apology accepted, the officer also submitted a list of 1043 witnesses, instead of list of 950 witnesses submitted earlier.
Read: ‘Delaying tactics’: Baldia fire witnesses rise to 950
All prosecution related documents were also provided to the suspects, before the case reaching its indictment phase.
The owners of the garment factory were also not present at the hearing. Their defense counsel cited "ill health" as the reason for their absence. The court directed them to present a medical certificate and appear before the court in the hearing adjourned till March 21.
Further, no special public prosecutor for the case has been nominated as yet, after Shazia Hanjrah had resigned.
Read: Baldia factory fire: Special prosecutor resigns
Earlier on March 3, DG Rangers Sindh had also expressed concern over interference by ‘certain elements’ in the investigation of deadly incident.
Read: 'Certain elements' interfering in Baldia factory fire investigation: Rangers
According to the Rangers spokesperson, a meeting at the Rangers Headquarters in Karachi, with DG Rangers in chair was under way and threats to victims’ families and the investigation officer of the case came under discussion.
The Rangers chief had ordered the arrest of those involved in the fire incident, as well as of their sympathisers.
He also asked law enforcers to speed-up the ongoing operation against criminal elements in the city.
The investigation officer for the Baldia factory fire case submitted on Saturday a written apology in the district and sessions court for failing to appear during the last hearing.
The inferno at Ali Enterprises garment factory claimed the lives of 259 people on September 11, 2012.
The court had issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Investigation Officer Inspector Jahanzaib Khan for not appearing in court.
Read: Baldia factory fire: Court issues arrest warrant against investigation officer
After having his apology accepted, the officer also submitted a list of 1043 witnesses, instead of list of 950 witnesses submitted earlier.
Read: ‘Delaying tactics’: Baldia fire witnesses rise to 950
All prosecution related documents were also provided to the suspects, before the case reaching its indictment phase.
The owners of the garment factory were also not present at the hearing. Their defense counsel cited "ill health" as the reason for their absence. The court directed them to present a medical certificate and appear before the court in the hearing adjourned till March 21.
Further, no special public prosecutor for the case has been nominated as yet, after Shazia Hanjrah had resigned.
Read: Baldia factory fire: Special prosecutor resigns
Earlier on March 3, DG Rangers Sindh had also expressed concern over interference by ‘certain elements’ in the investigation of deadly incident.
Read: 'Certain elements' interfering in Baldia factory fire investigation: Rangers
According to the Rangers spokesperson, a meeting at the Rangers Headquarters in Karachi, with DG Rangers in chair was under way and threats to victims’ families and the investigation officer of the case came under discussion.
The Rangers chief had ordered the arrest of those involved in the fire incident, as well as of their sympathisers.
He also asked law enforcers to speed-up the ongoing operation against criminal elements in the city.