Accused of Baldia factory fire brought to Karachi from Bangkok

KARACHI- A two-member team of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrived in Karachi from Bangkok after bringing back Abdul Rahman alias Bhola, one of the main suspects in the Baldia factory fire incident that claimed more than 250 lives in 2012.

Subsequent investigations led to revelations that the factory was deliberately set ablaze over non-payment of extortion money.

According to Geo News, the FIA will start initial investigation and then hand Bhola over to the authorities.

The team reached Thailand on Sunday in order to get custody of Abdul Rahman, who was under treatment at a Bangkok prison hospital after being diagnosed with kidney problems.

The FIA had constituted a two-member team comprising Deputy Director Badar Baloch and Inspector Rehmatullah Domki for Bhola's extradition to Pakistan, sources had informed. The team arrived in Thailand along with documents and legal records pertaining to the Baldia factory tragedy, for taking custody of Rahman alias Bhola.

Earlier in his initial statement to the Interpol in Bangkok, Bhola had maintained that he was a 'political worker affiliated with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement.' He had rounded up from Bangkok by the Interpol on December 3 at the request of Pakistani authorities.

During a hearing of the Baldia factory fire case on November 28, an anti-terrorism court had subjected the authorities to intense scrutinu for not being able to arrest Hammad Siddiqui and Rahman alias Bhola. The court had ordered the interior ministry to arrest fugitives with the help of Interpol.