Baldia factory tragedy was organized terrorism: JIT report

KARACHI: The Joint Investigation Team (JIT) in its conclusive report stated that the Baldia factory tragedy was not an accident but organized terrorism, in which more than 250 people had been burnt alive.

According to details, the report was signed by officers of law enforcement institutions who have contributed to the investigation of the factory fire case.

The 27-page report revealed that the factory had been torched by MQM leaders Hamad Siddiqui and Rehman Bhola over non-payment of Rs200 million as extortion money.

The report also pointed out the irresponsibility of the police forces which seemed to be hiding the real characters involved in the mass killing of innocent people.

The report further said that the JIT had imposed sanctions against Rehman Bhola, Hamad Siddiqui, Zubair, four unidentified accomplices while Umar Hassan Qazi, Dr. Abdul Sattar, Ali Hassan Qadri and a woman Iqbal Adib Khanum under Pakistan and terrorism provisions.

“The prime characters in the terrorism incident should be brought back from the foreign country besides including them in Exit Control List (ECL) and seizure of their passports,” the report added.

The report also highlighted that many elements attempted internally and externally influence the investigation process in order to suppress the matter. The report also revealed that a 1000-yard bungalow had been purchased in Hyderabad by using the extortion money before the occurrence of the Baldia factory incident.

It is worth mentioning here that the accused Muhammad Zubair alias Charia belonging to Muttahida Qaumi Movement was arrested from Saudi Arabia in 2016.