Baldia Factory Fire Incident And The Sympathizers Of Taliban!

Recently an important meeting was held in Karachi presided by the DG Rangers in which the matters about the interrogations of the Baldia Town factory fire incident came under discussion. According to Rangers spokesperson, the meeting discussed threats and expressed concern over mysterious disappearance of the Baldia Town incident suspect Rizwan Qureshi along with other factors. The Rangers chief ordered the arrest of those involved in the fire incident, as well as of their sympathizers. (http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/sindh/04-Mar-2015/certain-elements-interfering-in-baldia-factory-fire-investigation-rangers)

Once again the Baldia factory fire tragedy is under discussion in the country. This incident in which over 250 factory people were burnt alive got media`s attention when the Sindh Rangers submitted a JIT (Joint Interrogation Team) report to the Sindh High court in which it was claimed that the fire incident was the result of the dispute of extortion between the criminals (allegedly belonging to political party, i.e., MQM) and the factory owners. But, this report became very controversial as a result of which the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ordered to form a new JIT to probe the matter further.

However, in the scenario where the interrogation of the new JIT is at initial stage, DG Rangers` orders to arrest not only the “accused”, but even their “sympathizers” have raised serious questions over the way Baldia factory fire case is being led.

In is on record that the judicial commission set up to probe the Baldia factory fire incident, gave its report that it could not find sufficient evidences leading to any deliberation behind the incident. Consequently, if someone claims that the factory fire was a planned act, then he would have to present concrete and reliable proofs in order to prove the same in courts. Until then, it is legally wrong to call the factory fire incident as an intentional act

It should be kept in mind that calling the factory fire a conspiracy began ever since the Sindh Rangers submitted its JIT (Joint Interrogation Team) report to the Sindh High Court in which it was claimed that Rizwan Qureshi, the main suspect in the movie-like story of the Baldia factory fire case, “revealed” that the factory fire was the result of a conflict over not paying extortion money to the extortionists belonging to political party. That was the reason why the Pakistan media as well as the political rivals started bashing MQM and its leadership. However, very interestingly, it was also mentioned in the same JIT report that whatever Rizwan Qureshi claimed was based on only what he had heard from someone, i.e., what he said was based on a hearsay.

(http://www.dawn.com/news/1162049/rangers-report-blames-mqm-for-baldia-factory-fire )

In addition, after having seen so many loop holes present in the report and the logical criticism to it, the Prime Minister`s  ordering for new investigation in the same case technically smashed the credibility of the first JIT report that had created all the mess in Pakistani politics.

From legal point of view, Rizwan Qureshi, does not deserve to be considered even a “Suspect” in the case. Because, as per the JIT report, he was neither himself involved in it, nor did he witness anyone committing that alleged crime. He told the interrogation officers about what had heard from someone else. Then can such a person who has nothing to do with what he just heard anyhow be named in the case as a main suspect?

Thus, it appeared very strange to see the DG Rangers ordering “to arrest not only the suspects, but also their sympathizers”. The question is, is it judicious to treat someone as a culprit in the crime whose occurrence has not yet been proved in any court of law and also to arrest their sympathizers? Can such a non-sense anyhow be justified in any part of the world?? Is this not an obvious victimization of a specific political party (MQM) and the ethnic community (Urdu speakers commonly known as Muhajirs)?

We know that Pakistan has been facing the worst form of terrorism from Taliban groups for last several years. These groups, in addition to committing suicide attacks, not only beheaded the abducted persons, but also played football with their heads. Over 50,000 Pakistanis have already become the victim of their viciousness by now. The Peshawar School massacre in which over 130 children were inhumanly killed was the height of Taliban`s brutality. But very unfortunately, there are still a large number of people in Pakistan who do not only express sympathy for Taliban monsters, but also do not hesitate to justify their ill-deeds openly.

It was Jamat-e-Islami (JI) which always defended Taliban terrorists and even declared them as martyrs (Shaheed). Jamiat Ulema Islam (Fazal-Uu-Rehman and Sami-Ul-Haq both groups) also backed these religious extremists and expresses similar sentiments for them.  It is also on record that Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz Sharif group) and Imran Khan`s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf left no stone unturned to stop any imminent action against these extremist groups. It was Imran Khan who even demanded for allowing Taliban to open offices in Pakistan.

Considering these, what should pro-Taliban leaders and parties be called if not “terrorists` sympathizers”? But, did we see any important meeting being held from our security forces which expressed concern over interference in the actions to be taken against extremists? Did the DG Rangers, ISI or chief of armed forces ever order to arrest sympathizers of Taliban terrorist??

It is also a bitter fact that Taliban and other Jihadi groups were formed and logistically supported by the Pakistani military establishment which was an open violation of the Constitution of Pakistan. Not only this, even the terrorist attacks at the Pakistani air bases (Mehran and Kamra), police academies, Karachi airport and even the General Head Quarters (GHQ), took place with the support of the insiders which exposed the sympathizers in all these departments. Did we see any order begin given to arrest those sympathizers who were involved in logistically supporting the terrorists in their vicious deeds??

To tell the truth, MQM (Muttahida Qoumi Movement) is the only party which not only strongly condemned all the terrorist attacks from 9/11 to the Peshawar School massacre in December 2015, but also mobilized people to come out on roads in protest. It was MQM`s leadership which always came up with the clearest and strongest stand against Talibanization (radicalization) in Pakistan. Therefore, hitting MQM below the belt would mean nothing, but to facilitate radicalization spread all over Pakistan that would not help either the country or its people.