An anti-terrorism court (ATC) has deferred its verdict regarding the Baldia factory fire case to September 22.

The ATC had reserved its verdict on September 2 after hearing arguments from both sides. At least 400 people have recorded their statements in the case.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) lawmaker Rauf Siddiqui, Abdul Rehman alias Bhola and eight others have been 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 (KTC).

MQM’s Hammad Siddiqui masterminded Baldia factory fire that killed 289: JIT report

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.

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