MQM worker says sector in-charge set fire to Baldia factory

KARACHI (Web Desk) – Umair Hassan Siddiqui, a Muttahida Qaumi Movement activist, confessed before an anti-terrorism court on Saturday to have killed 120 people in targeted attacks and admitted party’s sector in-charge Rehman Bhola had set fire to the factory in Baldia Town killing at least 258 workers.

 

Siddiqui, who was produced by the Rangers, also confessed to having killed the nephew of MQM worker Amir Khan. He maintained he was being given the task of killing those who opposed the MQM by Karachi Tanzeemi Committee member Hammad Siddiqui.

 

He told the court he presided over the rigging in the general elections 2013, saying the presiding officers were called to the sector and convinced regarding bogus voting.

 

According to the Rangers, a team of 23 target killers belonging to various MQM units in Karachi was being headed by Siddiqui. It was involved in the killing of nearly 120 people.

 

Siddiqui disclosed to the Rangers that as many as 250 target killers were present in the areas around the MQM headquarters, Nine-Zero and that he used to purchase illegal weapons from Quetta.

 

The court handed Siddiqui over to the Rangers for 90 days under the Protection of Pakistan Act, 2014.

 

The judge also instructed the officials to arrange Hassan's meeting with his family.

 

In his statement before the court, Hassan said he was arrested on February 15 from Azizabad area of Karachi.

 

The defence counsel blamed the Rangers for maltreatment of the culprit.

 

Meanwhile, the weapons seized by Rangers in the Nine-Zero raid have been handed over to police for a forensic analysis. According to sources, the report will be issued in 10 to 12 days.

 

A huge quantity of arms and ammunition, walkie talkies, binoculars and other military gear were seized in the raid.