ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected a Sindh government’s petition seeking to revisit its June 10 acquittal of two Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) workers in the deadly 2012 Baldia factory fire case.
A three-judge bench comprising Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmed Khan, Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi and Justice Shakeel Ahmed also dismissed a separate petition moved for expungement of remarks by the Sindh High Court regarding the MQM.
In its judgement, the apex court had described the Baldia factory fire as one of the most tragic and painful disasters in the country’s history in which 260 workers lost their lives and around 60 others suffered burn injuries.
The review petition, filed through Sindh Prosecutor General Shabbir Shah, asked the court to review its June 10 judgement, in which Justice Shahzad had called for a prompt, scientific, impartial and effective investigation so that the real cause of the tragedy could be determined and those actually responsible brought to justice.
Sindh govt had challenged June 10 apex court verdict acquitting two MQM workers in deadly incident that killed 260 workers
It contended that the Supreme Court judgement suffered from error of facts, circumstances, confessional statement and violation of law of vicarious liability and common object.
The detailed judgement had noted that the original FIR had been registered against the factory owners and management for allegedly failing to implement adequate safety measures.
However, around two-and-a-half years later, the prosecution changed its stance, alleging that MQM workers Abdul Rehman alias Bhola and Zubair alias Chariya and others had deliberately set the factory on fire after its owners refused to pay Rs250 million in extortion money allegedly demanded by the MQM.
The Supreme Court reiterated that it was the prosecution’s duty to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt and the court’s responsibility to ensure that no innocent person was convicted on the basis of presumptions or unreliable evidence. At the same time, it emphasised that offenders should not escape punishment where credible and convincing evidence existed.
Referring to allegations of extortion, murders and arson attributed to the MQM, the court observed that probabilities and presumptions, however strong, could never substitute for conclusive proof required under the criminal justice system.
“We are clear in our minds that if there is no reliable evidence or conclusive proof against the petitioners to establish the alleged motive or other charges, their convictions cannot be sustained merely on the basis of presumptions, probabilities or general allegations,” the judgement had stated.
Published in Dawn, October 8th, 2026
