Baldia factory fire case: Abdul Rehman, Zubair challenge death sentences in SHC

Zubair alias Charya and Abdul Rehman alias Bhola who were sentenced to death by an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in the Baldia factory fire case, have challenged their sentences in the Sindh High Court (SHC).

In their appeals filed on Wednesday through their lawyers, the two argue that the ATC ignored important evidence while pronouncing its verdict in the case. The requested that the SHC overturn the ATC’s verdict, local media reported.

On 22, the ATC Karachi awarded death sentence to the two MQM leaders on two counts, life sentences on four counts, prison sentences of 10 years on two counts. They were also handed prison sentences of seven, three and two years on three separate counts.

MQM lawmaker Rauf Siddiqui, Iqbal Adeel Khanum, Dr Abdul Sattar Khan and Ali Hasan Qadri were acquitted in the case over lack of evidence.

On September 11, 2012, 260 workers died after they were burnt alive when the garment factory building was set on fire.

Siddiqui, Abdul Rehman and others were charged with setting the factory on fire. The accused allegedly followed orders of Hammad Sidique, who was then an MQM party high official and in charge of the Karachi Tanzeemi Committee. Hammad remains absconding in the case and is said to be outside Pakistan.

The building was set ablaze after the factory owners refused to pay them Rs200 million as extortion money. According to the JIT report, an eyewitness said that not only was the factory burnt down with workers inside, they also made sure nobody could escape by locking the doors.