Daily Times

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s former Baldia Town sector in-charge Abdul Rehman alias Bhola, the prime suspect in Baldia factory inferno case, was handed over to the police on physical remand for questioning on Wednesday.

The anti-terrorism court-II granted the physical remand of the suspect till Dec 19 at the request of the investigation officer of the case.

At the outset, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)’s officials presented the suspect before the ATC amid tight security and informed the judge that he was arrested from Bangkok through Interpol following its directions. The IO, who was present in court, submitted that Bhola was to be questioned by a joint investigation team and therefore, his custody was required.

Realizing the gravity of the offence, the court once again issued directives to the authorities to appoint an investigation officer not below the rank of SP to carry out investigation.

The court also instructed the IO to submit a progress report after investigation on the next hearing.

Bhola while speaking to the media persons denied the allegations of his involvement and said he did not set the factory ablaze. Suspect Asghar Baig, who leveled allegations against him, is in fact behind the incident, he added. Earlier on Tuesday, a team comprising two officials of the FIA had brought Bhola back to the country.

The FIA has reported to have arrested Bhola with the help of Bangkok police on Dec 3 after the Interpol had issued his red warrants.

Over 250 workers were burnt alive in an ill-fated multi-storey garment factory in Baldia Town in September 2012. The reinvestigation of the incident in March last year by a joint investigation team revealed that the factory was set on fire after its owners failed to pay extortion money. Initially the incident was termed as an accident caused by lack of emergency exits, safety equipments and training. However, the reinvestigation unearthed the plot behind it. The JIT had alleged that former chief of MQM Karachi Tanzeemi committee Hammad Siddiqui, his front man and the then Baldia Town sector in-charge, Bhola, and four unidentified persons were behind the plot of setting the factory on fire.

It has nominated 13 suspects, including the factory’s owners, gatekeepers and some other employees, in the case. Subsequently, the police conducted investigation in light of the JIT and filed a supplementary investigation report charge sheeting Hammad Siddiqui, his alleged front man Abdul Rehman Bohla their other accomplices and the factory owners.

The ATC had repeatedly issued non-bailable warrants for the arrest of Hammad and other his accomplices. However, they are still on the run and are believed to have gone into hiding.