Dubai (Staff Report): The United Arab Emirates (UAE) handed over Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s Hammad Siddiqui, main accused in the Baldia Town factory fire, to Pakistani authorities.
The fire, which had erupted at Ali Enterprises in Karachi’s Baldia Town on September 11, 2012, had claimed the lives of over 259 labourers.
In December 2016, the key suspect of Baldia Town Fire Abdul Rehman alias Bholla confessed igniting the fire at the orders of Hammad Siddiqui. Bhola, during the investigations, revealed that the MQM leader gave his the instruction to set fire to the factory due to non-payment of Rs 250 million extortion money.
According to sources, Siddiqui has arrived in Pakistan and is currently in custody of intelligence agencies. His deportation was conducted by mutual intelligence coordination between the two countries and standard operating procedures weren’t used.
Siddiqui was arrested in Dubai in October and local authorities approached the Pakistani Consulate for his deportation.
