KARACHI: The state prosecutor has opposed bail applications moved by the owner and two employees of a factory where 16 workers had died in a fire in Korangi last month.

The fire, allegedly caused by a short circuit, engulfed industrial unit BM Luggage on Aug 27 killing 16 workers in Mehran Town.

Factory owner Hassan Meetha, alias Ali Meetha, building owner Faisal Tariq, manager Syed Imran Ali Zaidi, supervisors Zafar and Rehan and watchman Syed Zarin have been booked for their alleged involvement in the incident.

Police had first arrested the watchman and later Meetha, Tariq and Zaidi were also arrested after District and Sessions Judge (East) Khalid Hussain Shahani had revoked interim pre-arrest bail granted to them on Aug 30 against a surety of Rs500,000 each.

Last week, Meetha, Zaidi and Zarin had filed applications seeking grant of post-arrest bail to them.

When the matter came up before DJ Shahani, the state prosecutor argued that no orders might be passed by the court on bail pleas of the suspects until the final charge-sheet was filed by the investigating officer of the case.

Prosecutor Amir Dasti further argued that the role of the suspects in the commissioning of the alleged offence would be described in the final charge sheet.

He informed that the IO had widened the scope of the investigation into the alleged fire incident by including relevant provincial government departments and civic agencies.

He said that the IO had sent letters to the officers/officials of these departments and agencies, calling their respective reports regarding action, if any, taken by the owners of the factory and its building for allegedly running commercial business in residential structures.

The responses from these departments and agencies were being awaited, he said, and asked the court to dismiss the bail pleas of the suspects since investigation was still incomplete.

After hearing arguments from the prosecution, the judge adjourned the hearing till Sept 25.

23 held for ‘selling’ gutka

A local court on Tuesday remanded in judicial custody 23 suspects held for allegedly manufacturing and selling gutka.

Police claimed to have arrested Abdul Moeed; owner of the factory, along with Faqir Mohammad, Shabbir and others over their alleged involvement in manufacturing the chewing tobacco in Mowach Goth.

On Tuesday, the IO produced them before the judicial magistrate (South) to seek their physical remand for interrogation and investigation.

The IO said that acting on a tip-off police raided a factory owned by Abdul Moeed, where they were manufacturing gutka, which is hazardous to human health.

He further informed that all the suspects were working in the factory from where 14 sacks full of betel nuts and other chemicals used in the manufacturing of gutka were recovered during the raid.

He requested the judge to grant 14-day physical remand of the suspects for interrogation and completion of investigation and other legal formalities.

However, the judge remanded them in judicial custody with direction to the IO to produce them on the next date along with an investigation report.

Published in Dawn, September 22nd, 2021