KARACHI: The Jamaat-i-Islami on Friday described the Baldia factory fire tragedy as “the blackest incident” in the history of the country and said that if the government and national security institutions failed to take action against terrorist organisations, peace could never be restored to Karachi.

These views were expressed by Karachi chapter JI chief Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rahman while speaking at a press conference along with affected families of the Baldia factory fire incident at Idara Noor-i-Haq.

“After the investigation of high-profile terrorist cases such as Wali Khan Babar killing, May 12 carnage, April 9 mayhem and the Baldia factory inferno, it is evident that a mafia party is behind all terrorism incidents,” Hafiz Naeem said.

He said that the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) report on the Baldia factory inferno was an eye-opener for every patriotic Pakistani as according to the report the incident in which more than 260 workers were burnt alive was carried out just for refusing to pay protection money.

Hafiz Naeem demanded a transparent judicial inquiry into the JIT report in connection with the Baldia factory inferno and a transparent judicial inquiry into other terrorist incidents, including the May 12 carnage and the 12th Rabi-ul-Awwal incident.

The JIT findings of the May 12 and April 9 incidents should also be made public, he added.

He asked the government to announce million-rupee compensation and a job for each family of the Baldia factory fire tragedy.

He also said that the JI would also try to make all possible arrangements to address the educational and health needs of the families of the Baldia factory fire victims.

Published in Dawn, February 14th, 2015

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