Daily Times

KARACHI: Former in-charge of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM)’s Karachi Tanzeemi Committee Hammad Siddiqui has made shocking revelations regarding incidents of May 12 and Baldia factory fire. Sources said that Hammad had provided some crucial evidences regarding both the tragic incidents and the disclosures were likely to put the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) in trouble, as some of the members of those parties are also suspected of involvement in the incidents. Hammad Siddiqui was arrested in Dubai last Friday. His party membership was suspended in 2013 for violating discipline, following which Siddiqui had moved to UAE. The ex-MQM official has a number of cases registered against him including the high profile Baldia Factory fire case and Imran Farooq murder case. The prime suspect in Imran Farooq murder case, Moazzam Ali had told the investigation team that he had arranged London visas for two alleged hitmen in Imran Farooq murder case – Mohsin and Kashif – upon directives by Hammad Siddiqui. In 2016, an anti-terrorism court issued non-bailable arrest warrants for accused Hammad Siddiqui in Baldia Factory Fire case. “The fire that engulfed Baldia factory was an outcome of a pre-planned scheme and that it was no accident,” revealed the JIT report. “The factory was set ablaze over non-payment of bhatta – protection money.” Sources said the JIT report stated that MQM sector in-charge Rehman alias Bhola. Hammad Siddiqui had demanded Rs 200 million extortion from owners of the factory.

Published in Daily Times, November 7^th 2017.