KARACHI: The key suspect in Baldia factory fire case, Abdul Rehman alias Bhola has said in his confessional statement before the court that he had set the factory on fire on the directions of Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Hammad Siddiqui as the factory owners refused to pay full extortion.
He said before the court that MQM central leader Rauf Siddique used his influence to get the case registered against the factory owners.
Bhola said that Hammad Siddiqui demanded Rs 250 million extortion but the factory owners were agreed to pay only Rs10 million. He continued that Hammad Siddiqui lashed out on it and ordered to torch the factory.
Bhola revealed that Zubair Charya had been given the task to torch the factory. He said Hammad Siddiqui assured him that MQM assembly members will hold relief camp outside the factory after the ablaze.
Bhola said that party influence used to suppress the issue.
It is pertinent to mention here that at least 259 innocent workers had been burnt to death in fire at Ali Enterprise Factory in September 2012.
