Korangi factory fire: Verdict on bail pleas of owner, others on 26th

KARACHI: A sessions court on Friday deferred until Oct 26 the pronouncement of its verdict on bail applications of six suspects in the Korangi factory fire case.

The court reserved the verdict after hearing arguments from both prosecution and defence sides on Oct 18. The verdict was to be pronounced on October 22 (today).

Factory owner Hassan Meetha, its manager Syed Imran Ali Zaidi and others moved the bail applications. Meetha, Zaidi, building owner Faisal Tariq, supervisors Zafar Ali and Farrukh Ahmed and a watchman are named in the case challan as detained suspects.

Apart from them, officials of civic agencies and utilities have also been charge-sheeted by the investigation officer.

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Meanwhile, the court extended the bail of Korangi DC Saleemullah Odho, Assistant Commissioner Sajida Ayaz, Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) officers Mohammad Salman, Khizr Hayat and Mohammad Rizwan and Civil Defence Karachi director Safdar Bughio until Oct 26.

On Oct 12, the sessions court had granted them interim pre-arrest bail against a surety bond of Rs500,000 each.

On August 27, at least 16 labourers had burnt to death as a blaze erupted in a chemical factory located in Korangi’s Mehran Town of the port city.

The labourers working for the factory had said that there was only one way to enter or exit the building and the blaze made it impossible to reach it.