KARACHI, Sept 13: Describing the factory fire incident as a “great national tragedy”, Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan has said that over the years hundreds of such incidents have happened in the country, but the authorities have done nothing for workers and to protect their rights.

Mr Khan, who came to Karachi to offer condolences to the bereaved families of the tragedy, was speaking to the media after visiting the factory on Thursday.

He said that a majority of those employed in the factory were the sole breadwinners of their families and now it was the responsibility of the government to extend maximum financial support to their families.

The PTI chief said that the victims in such incidents were mostly poor workers employed on contract basis, but the authorities paid no heed to protect their basic rights.

“Unfortunately laws have been framed in the country to protect the rich, but the rights of the poor are being trampled over and no one is there to safeguard their interests,” he said.

He demanded of the government to ensure all safety measures in all factories and industrial concerns to avoid such tragedies in the future.

Before leaving the site of the tragedy, Mr Khan also met bereaved families present there to offer his condolences.

He also attended Fateha held for the fire victims in a nearby mosque.