Former MQM official Hammad makes shocking revelations regarding May 12, Baldia fire incidents

KARACHI: Former in-charge of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM)’s Karachi Tanzeemi Committee Hammad Siddiqui has made some shocking revelations regarding incidents of May 12 and Baldia factory fire, ARY News reported.

Sources said Hammad had provided some crucial evidences regarding both the tragic incidents and the disclosures were likely to put the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) in hot water, as some of the members of those parties are also suspected of involvement in the incidents.

Hammad Siddiqui was arrested in Dubai on last Friday. His party membership was suspended in 2013 for violating discipline, following which Siddiqui had moved to UAE.

ARY News anchor Waseem Badami said both the Karachi-based parties had said action should be taken against anybody proved guilty in the heinous incidents. However, the PSP had favoured Hammad Siddiqui calling him innocent, he said.

Read More: Baldia factory set ablaze on orders of Hammad Siddiqui, court told

The ex-MQM official has a number of cases registered against him including the high profile Baldia factory fire case and Imran Farooq murder case.

The prime suspect in Imran Farooq murder case, Moazzam Ali had told the investigation team that he had arranged London visas for two alleged hitmen in Imran Farooq murder case – Mohsin and Kashif – upon directives by Hammad Siddiqui.

In 2016, an anti-terrorism court issued non-bailable arrest warrants for accused Hammad Siddiqui in Baldia Factory Fire case.

Nearly 250 people burnt to death after a horrific blaze erupted in the factory in September 2012. The government formed a JIT to thoroughly investigate the matter, which had later made startling revelations.

Read More: ‘Party leadership ordered to kill people in Karachi on May 12, 2007’

“The fire that engulfed Baldia factory was an outcome of a pre-planned scheme and that it was no accident,” revealed the JIT report. “The factory was set ablaze over non-payment of Bhatta – protection money.”

Sources said the JIT report stated that MQM sector in-charge Rehman alias Bhola and Hammad Siddiqui had demanded Rs 200 million extortion from owners of the factory.

The other prime accused in the Baldia factory fire case Rehman Bhola last year in December confessed his offence before the investigators and named Hammad on whose orders he set the factory ablaze.