KARACHI: Members of a team investigating the Baldia factory fire left for Dubai on Sunday to record statements of owners of the factory.

Additional Inspector General of Police, Karachi, Mushtaq Ahmed Mahar told Dawn that the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) would record statements of Arshad Aziz and Shahid Aziz on Monday and return on Thursday.

Headed by DIG Admn Sultan Khowaja, the JIT comprises DIG East Munir Ahmed Shaikh and representatives of the Federal Investigation Agency and other security institutions.

Also read: Baldia factory fire: 64 families of victims yet to be compensated

TV channels quoted DIG Khowaja as saying at the Dubai airport that the statements might help identity elements responsible for the tragedy, which claimed lives of about 258 factory workers in 2012.

He is also reported to have observed that the conclusion of the inquiry might have some bearings on peace in Karachi and he expected a breakthrough in the case.

Meanwhile, sources told Dawn that JIT members were gradually arriving at the conclusion that the Baldia factory fire was an act of sabotage.

The sources, familiar with initial findings of the team, said that when JIT members visited the gutted factory they realised that electricity wires there were intact, indicating that the fire might not have been caused by a short circuit.

They said that investigators were puzzled to see that the factory’s ground and second floors were destroyed but the first floor remained unaffected.

The sources revealed that a witness provided a crucial piece of evidence to the JIT, which might help them to identify the suspects and their motive. The witness, deeply worried by the incident, left the city, they added.

According to the sources, JIT members believed that previous investigators, especially those belonging to police, did not act in a professional manner.

Published in Dawn, October 5th , 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play