August 30, 2007	Thursday	Sha'aban 16, 1428

KARACHI, Aug 29: The judicial magistrate-12, Central, Abdul Zahoor Chandio, on Tuesday directed the investigation officer concerned to submit a final charge-sheet by Aug 30, against accused Akhtar Hussain Baloch, owner of a towel-dyeing and bleaching factory, where nine men were killed and 25 others wounded when a boiler exploded on July 24.

The court had summoned the investigation officer on Aug 11 to appear in court and submit a complete charge-sheet. The IO had appeared and submitted only an interim charge- sheet, stating that he was busy collecting evidence from various departments in the case.

Accused Akhtar Hussain had also submitted a bail application to the court of the district and sessions judge, Central, Nisar Ahmed Shaikh, which was transferred to the court of the JM-12.

The JM said the bail application could not be put up before the submission of a complete charge-sheet against the accused.

According to the FIR (359/07) registered at the Taimuria police station under Sections 322/H-2 and 427 of the Pakistan Penal Code, a boiler exploded in the factory on July 24, killing nine people and wounding 25 others.

The factory owner was arrested on the day of the accident while the boiler operator, Mohammed Ahsanullah, escaped to his native area in Punjab. The police arrested him on July 31.

The factory is situated in a shanty town, Malik Anwar Goth, Sector 15-B, North Karachi.

Stewardess’s case

The court of judicial magistrate-5, Malir, Zakaullah Abro, on Wednesday deferred until Sept 29 the hearing of a case against a Pakistan International Airlines stewardess arrested in possession of an allegedly unlicensed firearm.

According to the prosecution, 23-year-old Irum Ara was arrested by the Airport Security Force in Jinnah International Airport’s domestic departure lounge on the morning of Aug 13. She was attempting to board a Gwadar-Quetta-Turbat flight with a gun in her handbag.

FIR No 34/07 was registered against her by the airport police under Section 13/E of the Pakistan Arms Ordinance 1965, related to carrying unlicensed weapons. The report stated that a revolver loaded with four bullets was detected in Ms Irum Ara’s handbag by the ASF.

She was produced before court on Aug 15 and granted bail. The court also directed the investigation officer to produce a charge-sheet against the accused on Aug 29.

She appeared in court on Wednesday but the case was deferred because the judicial magistrate was on leave.