‘Baldia fire in accordance with MQM policy’

Naimat Khan
KARACHI: Terrorism and target killing was carried out in the city as part of the policy of the Altaf-led Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), revealed Abdul Rehman aka Bhola in his statement read out before the Sindh High Court here on Wednesday.
In the statement Bhola has confessed to several murders of the workers of ruling Pakistan People’s Party and Sunni Tehreek.
All murders were executed in accordance to the party policy and the orders would be passed on to killers by Hammad Siddiqui, head of the Karachi Tanzeemi committee.
Regarding the Baldia factory fire, Bhola said that Hammad Siddiqui had given him important task of collecting extortion money from Ali Enterprises.
“For this special task, I was made sector In-charge of Baldia and asked to demand Rs250million extortion. On September 11, 2012 Zubair aka Charia told that arrangements have been made for setting the factory afire,” Bhola told.
“Zubair Charia reached the factory in a Suzuki high roof pickup alongwith his accomplices and after 20 minutes informed that the work has been done,” he further revealed, informing that Hammad Siddiqui was informed about the fire in advance after which he asked the MQM MNAs, MPAS and workers to reach the spot.
According to Bhola Rauf Siddiqui played a role in lodging FIR against the owners so that MQM may not be accused. After the hearing the court rejected the bail please of absconding accused. Atleast 258 people were killed in the worst factory fire of the country.
Few weeks earlier, former leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Salman Mujahid Baloch, requested Director General of the paramilitary Rangers to take action against those officials who were involved in Baldia factory Fire.
According to Baloch, though the main culprits of the case have been arrested several officials who played part of facilitators in setting up the fire are not only at large but possessing important positions in the local governments.
Baloch, whose membership of the MQM-P was terminated after a video wherein he has threatened local government officials for not refueling his men, writes that at least four officers stationed in Baldia Town, namely Akmal Siddiqui, Mirza Asif Baig, Ameer Ali Qadri and Shahnawaz Bhatti facilitated the culprits in carrying out the crime.
“When the tragedy occurred, these officers were in contact with (MQM’s) Baldia Town Sector In-charge Rehman Bhola and used their position to help the accused in the case,” the letter says.