MQM had dispute with Baldia factory owner over extortion: witness

KARACHI: In a crucial development in the Baldia factory fire incident, brother of the former Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) sector in-charge on Wednesday said the party had a dispute with the factory owner over extortion money, ARY News reported.

The witness said his brother was replaced with accused Abdul Rehman alias Bhola as sector in-charge. “Prior to torching the factory, Bhola had come to meet its owner in July 2012,” he said.

He said he already had recorded his statement with the judicial magistrate and the joint investigation team.

The court has summoned more eye-witnesses on April 6 in the judicial magistrate court.

On April 2, a key eyewitness in the inferno case had testified before an anti-terrorism court that MQM worker Zubair Charya was present at Baldia factory when it was being set on fire.

The eyewitness, who had gone into hiding fearing for life, appeared in the ATC and recorded his statement.

Read More: Zubair ‘Chariya’ smiled as fire burnt people alive in Baldia factory: witness

He picked out Zubair as one of the accused persons, who were present inside the factory at the time when it was being put on fire.

He said the accused took plastic bags containing something out of his pockets and tossed them over clothes present in the industrial unit’s godown. He said Zubair Charya was smiling as the people were burning in the fire.