BANGKOK: Police on Saturday arrested Abdul Rehman alias Bhola, the alleged front man in the 2012 arson attack at Karachi’s Baldia garments factory in which 250 workers were burnt alive, Thai police said.
Abdul Rehman, 46, was detained at a hotel in the red light district Nana area of the capital on Friday evening, said Thailand’s Interpol chief. Pakistani authorities had named Abdul Rehman, who was then a sector in-charge of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), as the suspect who allegedly lit the fire.
He was arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) with the help of Interpol, said Sindh Additional IG Mushtaq Mahar.
“As per existing law, the FIA is authorised to arrest an absconder from another country with the help of Interpol,” said the AIG.
He added that Bhola’s custody will be handed over to the Sindh Police once he is brought back to the country for interrogation.
When asked whether Bhola was an MQM sector in-charge or not, MQM leader Rauf Siddiqui said, “This is not in my knowledge. Party’s convener and deputy convener know these things as set ups keep changing.”
The fire at the Ali Enterprises factory in September 2012 was one of Pakistan’s worst industrial disasters. Initially the fire was believed to be an accident but a joint investigation team (JIT) ‘reinvestigating’ the case this year termed the incident a “planned sabotage and terrorist activity”.
“Those involved in crimes against people will not be spared,” Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said.
“Baldia factory fire was one of the worst incidents to ever take place in the city in which innocent labourers were burnt alive,” said the CM.
The JIT had named Hammad, Abdul Rehman, Zubair, Ali Hasan, Umar Hasan, Abdul Sattar, Iqbal Adeeb Khanum and four unidentified persons as proposed accused in the report. However, police contended that incriminating evidence was available only against the two proposed accused.
