KARACHI: The tribunal, formed to investigate the cause of fire which erupted in one of Karachi’s factory killing at least 258 people on Sept 11, summoned some of the surviving workers on Wednesday to record their testimonies, DawnNews reported.

Chief Fire Officer Ehtesham uddin appeared before the tribunal, headed by Justice (retd) Qurban Alvi, to present his testimony.

The chief fire officer presented the call records of the day of the incident and daily journal of the fire department to the tribunal.

Answering a question, the chief officer said that it was necessary to examine the map of the factory so that it can be ascertained that how many emergency exits were initially planned.

He said that it would be too early to say that short circuit was the cause of the fire.

The fire officer also recommended that assistance from private investigation company should be sought.

The tribunal directed the owners of the factory to submit complete details of their assets.

Moreover, the tribunal directed all the parties to the case to submit their statement within 15 days.

The tribunal  adjourned the hearing until Wednesday.

Earlier on Monday, the owners of the factory, while recording their statement, said that despite many calls to the fire department, the fire fighters reached the factory after an hour of the incident.

The owners  had also claimed that during the fire-fighting and rescue operation by the fire department, the water in their reserves was finished and the rescue operation was halted for some time.

At least 258 workers perished in the horrific fire that destroyed the garment factory in Karachi, an unprecedented industrial tragedy that prompted calls for an overhaul of poor safety standards.