SHC grants bail to Baldia factory owners

Dawn.com Published September 14, 2012

A view of the factory in Baldia town which was struck by fire on September, 11, 2012, killing at least 258 workers.

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday granted interim bail to the owners of the fire-struck garment factory in Karachi's Baldia Town, DawnNews reported.

Defence lawyer Aamir Mansoor Qureshi said the court had granted bail to the factory's three owners.

The bail of Abdul Aziz, Shahid Bhaila and Rashid Bhaila was granted by the Sindh High Court's Larkana registry.

Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi approved the eight-day bail of the owners keeping securities of half a million rupees each.

Qureshi said the judge instructed the police that the factory owners could not be arrested for eight days under bail conditions.

The court also asked the owners to surrender their passports and ordered them not to leave the country.

A case against the owners had been registered by the police in Karachi on Thursday.

The government had ordered an inquiry and a senior official had already told AFP that the two brothers who owned the factory had been barred from leaving the country.

The case has been filed against Abdul Aziz, Mohammad Arshad and Shahid Bhaila and other members of the management of Ali Enterprises, Mohammad Nawaz Gondal, the head of the local police station, had told AFP on Thursday.

Pakistan

President Zardari, PM Shehbaz discuss country's political, economic and security situation

2 soldiers martyred, 16 terrorists killed in North Waziristan operations: ISPR

FO says Climate Minister Musadik Malik nominated to represent Pakistan at SCO moot in New Delhi

marghoob ahmed siddiqui

Sep 14, 2012 11:00pm

Nothing will happen. High Court will extend Bail period. They will be tried by any court till people forget the incidence. What type of justice our judiciary at every level is doing? Shame on us.

Recommend 0

U. Saifi

Sep 14, 2012 11:36am

what a farce our justice system is - these men are responsible for the death of nearly 300 innocent poor people. Compare it to Rimsha's case. I pity the poor people of Pakistan - there is no hope for them in Pakistan.

Recommend 0

Khizr

Sep 14, 2012 12:57pm

258 lives lost due to crimnial neglegence. Owners of the factory bailed for $5500? The court is being very lenient here.

Recommend 0

Razzaq

Sep 14, 2012 06:19pm

Are they arrested? if not than what is the bail for? does not make any sense.

Recommend 0

Who_Sane (USA)

Sep 14, 2012 07:00pm

After two days of this tragedy the business is as usual. Nothing will change. You get the sense of normalcy from reading this paper. There are no photos of the nameless and faceless victims. Shame on the government and shame on the city managers.

Recommend 0

Sep 15, 2012 03:39am

The people are arrested for crimnal acts not for accidents. After the official enquiry if its determined that criminal acts were commited then they should be persecuted. Accidents do happen.

Recommend 0

Iqbal

Sep 14, 2012 09:12pm

Along with the owners,and managers of the facory there should also be criminal negligence cases against the local counselors, MPA's and MNA's and police department officials of the area of incident. I am sure no commercial/industrial activity (big or small) could continue without their convenience. This was obviously an illegal factory in a purely residential area. I am also sure there are scores of similar illegal ,un- inspected factories all over the city. I am equally sure that no attempt will be made to close downs these illegal operations.

Recommend 0