The Joint Investigation Team (JIT) on Saturday gave a clean chit to disgruntled MQM leader Anees Qaimkhani in the Baldia factory fire case by excluding his name from the fresh investigation report presented in the court. According to a report submitted by JIT before the trial court, some members of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) including Hammad Siddiqui, Farooq Saleem and six others were allegedly suspects behind the country's deadliest fire.
The Baldia factory fire was planned by extortionists, says JIT report Over 250 workers perished inside the locked premises of Ali Enterprises in Baldia on September 11, 2012. During the hearing, SP Sajid Amir Sudozai, who is the in-charge of the joint investigation team formed in March last year, informed the sessions judge Maqbool Memon that concerned authorities are still waiting for a response from the home department. "The case may, with the consent of authorities, be re-registered under the anti-terrorism law since the elements of extortion and arson have been revealed during the course of inquiry," the investigation officer argued.
The court was further told that MQM's former Karachi Tanzeemi Committee in-charge, Hammad Siddiqui, had allegedly demanded Rs 200 million from the factory owners as protection money. The investigation officer requested the court to register a new case in light of the fresh JIT report. The court ordered presentation of the previous JIT report. However, the investigation officer told the court that the report is with the Home Department. The officer further said that they are waiting for Home Department's instructions over registration of a new case.
The court reprimanded the investigation officer for not arresting Mansoor Ahmed. "All of you are colluding in the case," the judge said. The directed the investigation officer to submit a concrete reply regarding fate of the case by next hearing. The court adjourned the hearing till March 22 and reissued non-bailable arrest warrants for the fugitives.
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