As the MQM and Rangers are publicly hurling insults and allegations at each other, one would presume all is not well behind the closed doors and MQM is being pressurised to go for some sort of deal of establishment’s liking. That’s why all of a sudden a JIT (Joint Investigation Team) report, based on confession of a KMC sanitary worker, has been made public linking the Baldia garment factory fire case of 2012 with MQM. Interestingly the one whose confession is the report’s basis didn’t commit the crime by himself; instead he heard from other people of the same. One would have thought that a JIT report would mean a comprehensive investigation report loaded with witness statements and their authenticity proofs, forensic evidences proven in labs of repute, reconstruction of crime scene with audio-video evidence such as phone records etc.
Apparently the present JIT report lacks on many counts, that’s why MQM has indicated to challenge the same in the court. For Karachiites, it’s a turf war between the two, MQM and Rangers, who are fighting for space and power in the city. But regardless of the authenticity of the JIT report, the main question remains the same: why was the garment factory not prepared to fight the fire? Why there were no proper in-house firefighting and extinguishing arrangements?
Why the factory gates were locked which was the main cause of so many deaths? If somehow it was an extortion case, then ensuring premises’ security was factory management’s (better say, owners’) responsibility. In Pakistan industrial plants and factories, especially those in private sector, barring few multinationals, lack any sort of fire extinguishing/fighting arrangements. Electric short-circuits are occasionally blamed for fires; why not upgrade the electric wiring and connections?
Regardless of the fact whether it was a sabotage or short-circuit related fire, the factory owners can’t be absolved of their responsibility to protect their workers. One would hope that courts would not overlook the inherent faults of this and many more private factory owners. This tragedy shall start the ball rolling to upgrade the factories to ensure workers’ safety, firefighting equipment’s availability, adequate emergency exits and proper storage of fuel on site.
MASOOD KHAN
Jubail, Saudi Arabia
Coward people of Pakistan – who dares to speak/write against MQM or Altaf. Look what happen with Imran Khan and PTI.
It is time to call a spade a spade. MQM is a party which sponsors criminals involved in extortion, target killing and kidnapping for ransom. Altaf himself is under trial in London for involvement in murder and money laundering
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