Key Baldia factory fire accused arrested in Thailand

KARACHI: One of the main accused in the Baldia Factory Fire case Abdul Rahman alias Bhola was arrested from Thailand, sources said.

Rahman was arrested in Bangkok by Interpol, it was learnt. Arrangements to bring him to Pakistan are being made, sources added.

In September 2012, a deadly fire devoured over 250 lives at a factory situated in Karachi's Baldia Town. Subsequent investigations led to revelations that the factory was deliberately set ablaze over non-payment of protection money.

About 40 commandos raided a room at the Royal Garden Home Hotel in Soi Nana yesterday evening and arrested Abdul Rehman alias Bhola, 46, who was staying alone in the room.

A police team from Karachi will set off for Thailand to bring Rahman back to Pakistan. A member of the FIA Interpol section will also be part of the team.

The Pakistan embassy in Bangkok will make arrangements for bringing him to Pakistan.

On November 28 during the hearing of the Baldia Factory Fire case the anti-terrorism court grilled authorities for not being able to arrest Hammad Siddiqui and Rehman alias Bhola, the other two suspects of the case. The court had ordered the interior ministry to arrest fugitives with the help of Interpol.

A JIT probing the matter stated that Hammad Siddiqui had ordered Rahman alias Bhola and others to set the factory on fire.

Rahman is one of the three main accused. Zubair alias Lala is in police custody, while Hammad Siddiqui is still at large.

PSP, MQM-Pakistan deny links to Rahman

Paksarzameen Party and Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan in separate statements refuted allegations that Rahman was once associated to their parties.

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MQM-P leader Rauf Siddiqui speaking to journalists in Karachi said that he could neither accept nor deny that Rahman was associated to MQM. However, he added, that those involved in the Baldia factory fire should meet a terrible fate.

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Meanwhile, PSP Chief Mustafa Kamal, speaking to journalists in Lahore said that Rahman was not member of his party. "He was arrested from outside Pakistan. He was never part of PSP," he said.