Key suspect of Baldia factory fire identifies himself as MQM worker

BANGKOK/KARACHI: Abdul Rahman alias Bhola, one of the main accused in Baldia factory inferno case, Tuesday recorded his initial statement to the Interpol in Bangkok.

The suspect was rounded up from Bangkok by the Interpol on December 03, upon the request of Pakistani authorities. Around 40 commandos had raided a room at the Royal Garden Home Hotel in Soi Nana and arrested Abdul Rahman alias Bhola, 46, who was staying in the room alone.

Bhola, in his statement to the Interpol, has maintained himself as a 'political worker affiliated with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement,' sources within the Federal Investigation Agency told Geo News. The suspect has stated before the officials that he was MQM sector in-charge of Baldia Town in Karachi.

The suspect is presently under custody of Bangkok Police.

The arrangements for the extradition of Rehman alias Bhola have been finalised and the FIA has appointed two of its officers to assist Karachi Police in this regard.

 They include Deputy Director Badruddin Baloch and Inspector Rehmatullah Domki.

The joint team of FIA and Karachi Police will depart for Thailand on Wednesday to take custody of the accused and bring him back to Pakistan.

He is likely to be extradited in next two, three days, FIA sources said.

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.

Rahman is one of the three main accused in the case. The other two are Zubair alias Lala and Hammad Siddiqui. Zubair has been under custody of police in Karachi, while Siddiqui still remains still at large.

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

On November 28 during the hearing of the Baldia factory fire case, an anti-terrorism court had grilled authorities for not being able to arrest Hammad Siddiqui and Rahman alias Bhola. The court had ordered the interior ministry to arrest fugitives with the help of Interpol.

Earlier, a few media reports also suggested Bhola had joined Pak Sarzameen Party.

However, the PSP and MQM Pakistan in their statements refuted the 'allegations' that Rahman was once associated to their ranks.