Final arguments in Baldia factory fire case to be heard on September 17

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Wednesday adjourned the hearing of the Baldia factory fire case until September 5 to listen to the remaining final arguments from the defence side.

The ATC-VII judge issued notices to the defence side to ensure their presence in the next hearing so that the court can complete the final arguments in the case and move towards the verdict. The court has already passed the evidence stage, and all the upheld witnesses have been heard.

According to a court staffer, around 400 witnesses have been examined and cross-examined during the trial. Police had named 768 witnesses in the charge sheet, but 368 of them had been given up for being unnecessary.

In what is regarded as one of the deadliest industrial disasters, an eye-opener to the dangerous working conditions in factories and a reminder of the lawlessness in Pakistan, 260 people were killed and 49 others injured in the fire at the Ali Enterprises garments factory in Baldia Town on September 11, 2012.

According to the prosecution, the factory was set on fire by men affiliated with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) because the factory owners had refused to give into the party’s demands for being paid extortion money.

Arshad Bhaila, one of the owners of the factory, had testified in court that MQM men had asked him to pay Rs250 million or a share of 50 per cent in the profits. He said he was willing to pay Rs10 million.

Independent opinions suggest that regardless of the cause of the fire, casualties occurred because the factory lacked the basic occupational health and safety standards, while the building design was also flawed.

According to London-based research group Forensic Architecture, which conducted an analysis of the fire using computer simulation, inadequate safety measures at the factory had led to the catastrophic death toll.

The case is based on the findings of the joint investigation team’s report, which states that the incident was that of arson, and that the scene was compromised because of the fire rescue activities and the time lapse.

The report also disapproved of the previous investigations’ claims of holding an electrical short circuit responsible for the fire incident at the Baldia garments factory. Ten suspects are currently facing trial. They include the MQM’s then commerce & industries minister Rauf Siddiqui, some factory employees and private persons. Of these, Abdul Rehman, alias Bhola, and Zubair, alias Charya, are in judicial custody. The rest of the accused are on bail. Siddiqui is absconding.