The Supreme Court on Wednesday acquitted Abdul Rehman alias Bhola and Zubair alias Chariya in the Baldia Town factory fire case, overturning the death penalties previously imposed by a trial court and upheld by the Sindh High Court (SHC).
The tragic fire at the garment factory in Karachi on September 11, 2012, remains one of Pakistan’s deadliest industrial disasters, claiming 259 lives and injuring many others. Both accused had been charged with arson and extortion linked to this calamity.
In a significant development, a three-judge bench led by Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan accepted the convicts’ appeals, ruling that the prosecution had not proven its case beyond reasonable doubt. The court emphasized that the accused deserved the benefit of doubt given the evidentiary and legal complexities involved.
Meanwhile, the bench dismissed a petition from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) seeking the removal of certain judicial remarks, declaring the matter moot since the original verdict had been overturned and the comments no longer held legal relevance.
During hearings, the court scrutinized multiple legal and evidentiary deficiencies in the prosecution’s arguments. It questioned the validity of some confessional statements and considered the alleged political ties of certain accused persons. The judges also rejected motions to include the deceased victims’ heirs as parties to the case, warning that such participation could unnecessarily delay proceedings.
Justice Shahzad noted that the case had grown increasingly complicated due to the interplay of political and legal factors. Justice Shakeel Ahmad highlighted inconsistencies between statements on record and the available evidence.
Notably, in September 2023, the SHC had upheld the death sentences of MQM activists Abdul Rehman and Zubair, dismissing their appeals against the anti-terrorism court’s (ATC) convictions. The ATC had sentenced them to death for charges including murder, arson, extortion, and terrorism related to the 2012 fire. However, the SHC also rejected the government’s appeal against the acquittal of four accused, including MQM leader Rauf Siddiqui, while overturning life sentences for four others by setting aside their convictions.
