KARACHI: A worker was killed and three others were hurt when a fire broke out in a factory in the outskirts of the city within the remit of the Manghopir police station on Wednesday, police and fire officials said.

They added that the blaze erupted in a battery manufacturing factory in Deh Mai Gari off Northern Bypass near Mohammed Khan Goth.

Four persons suffered burn wounds and were shifted to the Burns Centre of the Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital, where doctors pronounced Mohammed Salih, 18, dead. He originally hailed from Thul, an area of Jacobabad.

Manghopir SHO Haji Sanaullah said that one of the injured, Hikmatullah, 27, was critical as he suffered 89 per cent burns. Two other injured were identified as Haq Nawaz, 35, and Sanaullah, 22.

A fire brigade official said that the blaze erupted in a warehouse where plastic was being recycled. Besides, batteries used in motorbikes were also being manufactured and repaired there.

A Nadra official wanted in the issuance of fake CNICs case has been arrested

The fire erupted at around 11.28am and it was controlled by two fire tenders at 2.55pm. The exact cause of the fire and estimation of loss could not be made till late in the night.

The area SHO said the deceased’s father, Sheral, who was in Karachi to see his son, told the police that it was an accident and he did not want any legal proceedings.

Recently, 16 industrial workers were killed in a fire that broke out in a factory in Mehran Town.

Fake CNICs scandal

The Federal Investigation Agency on Wednesday claimed to have arrested an official of the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) in their ongoing inquiry into the “fake CNICs scandal”.

The Anti-Human Trafficking Cell (AHTC) lodged an FIR against Nadra deputy director Govari Shankar and assistant director (agency support cell) Yasir Zeb.

Suspect Shankar had gone underground to avoid arrest. Suspect Zeb demanded Rs1 million from Shankar and assured him of protection from arrest. He received Rs650,000 in cash and Rs250,000 through his bank account from Shankar.

“After registration of the case, the wanted suspect Shankar has been arrested while raids are being conducted for the arrest of Zeb,” said an FIA spokesperson.

The official said that so far six cases had been registered pertaining to the fake CNICs scandal and total 18 suspects had been arrested.

The held suspects included senior officers of Nadra, foreigners and agents.

Ex-NBP official held

Meanwhile, the State Bank Circle of the FIA arrested a former senior executive vice president (SEVP) of the National Bank of Pakistan for unauthorised sale and purchase of shares.

The official, Nusrat Vohra, had remained the head of the bank’s treasury management group and during his posting he was involved in sale/purchase of shares for which he was not authorised being a government employee, said the FIA spokesperson.

“The suspect while misusing his powers and position earned Rs1.24 billion through illegal means and an inquiry was being conducted,” he said.

The FIA sought information from Vohra for his assets and properties several times but he failed to give a satisfactory response.

A case was registered against him under the Anti-Money Laundering Act and Prevention of Corruption Act.

Published in Dawn, September 16th, 2021