Karachi fire: Factory owners appear before police

KARACHI: The owners of ill-fated factory gutted in Baldia Town appeared before the police Saturday to record their statements regarding the unfortunate incident in which more than 260 workers lost their lives, Geo News reported.

Investigations encompassing different angles are currently underway while the owners of the factory face murder charges under section.302.

The owners of the factory - Abdul Aziz, his sons Arshad Bhaila and Shahid Bhaila – appeared in Site B police station to record their statements but due to the absence of the investigating officer, their statements could not be recorded.

Police told that the three accused had also brought some documents with them.

While talking to the media, Shahid Bhaila told that they are ready to appear before any investigating authority and vowed to cooperate in the investigation.

Police has also conducted raids and arrested more than ten workers including security guard for investigation. SSP West Amir Farooqui told Geo News that police are investigating them that who ordered for closure of doors of the factory.

Meanwhile, the CCTV video of the factory tragedy has been released which shows that the fire started on the first floor at 6:56PM in the factory’s cutting department and afterwards workers started to run.

The CCTV video from outside the factory has not been decoded yet.

Earlier, the Sindh High Court Larkana Bench had granted them Rs.500,000 each protective bail for eight days (till 21 September).

Arshad Bhaila had claimed the fire first broke out in the warehouse and he himself called the fire brigade, which arrived about an hour and a half late.

Arshad disclosed that, on that tragic day, he and his brother Shahid stayed out in the burning factory till midnight. He said that they got themselves bailed to share the grief of their deceased workers’ families.

Arshad vowed to compensate for the victims according to industry and labour laws.