AAMIR MAJEED
An investigation into the Baldia factory fire incident has revealed infighting between two heavyweights of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) for the coveted slot of Baldia Town sector in charge, Pakistan Today has reliably learnt.
A reliable source told this scribe that the then MQM Karachi Tanzeemi Committee (KTC) in charge Hammad Siddiqui had replaced Asghar Baig, former Baldia Town sector in charge with joint in charge Abdul Rehman alias Bhola after exchange of heated conversation over collection of extortion money from owner of Ali Enterprises, the owner of ill-fated factory.
The name of Asghar Baig surfaced after the main culprit of Baldia factory fire incident Abdul Rehman alias Bhola held him responsible for the fire in front of the media after his appearance in an Anti-Terrorim Court (ATC) on Wednesday.
The source maintained that the party had demanded Rs 200 million extortion money from the owner of Ali Enterprises in August 2012 when Asghar Baig was serving as a sector in charge of Baldia Town. “Asghar along with his brother Majid took the owner of ill-fated factory to MQM headquarters Nine Zero for settlement of extortion money,” the source added.
“Baig met with KTC in charge and said that the factory owner was a party supporter, and he should be given some relaxation in the amount of extortion,” the source narrated.
“On turning down his request, Baig exchanged heated words with KTC in chrage Hammad Siddiqui, who, in anger, replaced him with the Baldia Town joint sector in charge Abdul Rehman alias Bhola,” the source explained.
“Following appointment of Bhola as a sector in charge, he was asked by the KTC to accomplish the undone work of his predecessor Asghar Baig,” the source recalled.
“Before appointment of Bhola as Baldia Town sector in charge, he was in cold war with Asghar Baig on various issues,” the source said and added, “The insiders told that MQM was divided into two groups, and one group supported Baig while the other was in favour of Bhola.”
It may be pertinent to mention here that a team of Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) raided at the house of Asghar Baig and took his brother Majid into custody following his disappearance. However, Majid was released by the CTD after two-month long interrogation.
Further probe into this matter has revealed that Asghar Baig had escaped abroad following factory fire incident, and currently he is serving for one of the two newly-emerged factions of MQM.
To validate this information when Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) was approached, the party officials categorically denied its association with Asghar Baig. PSP spokesman Iftikhar Alam claimed that Baig has no communication with any of the party leader nor he was part of the party set-up.
MQM-Pakistan leader Ameen-ul-Haque claimed that Asghar Baig was not part of the current set-up.