KARACHI: Deputy Convener of Mutahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Dr. Farooq Sattar on Thursday said a judicial commission must be constituted to ascertain the cause of the fire in a Karachi garment factory which has caused the deaths of more than 250 people.

Talking to the media during a visit to the site of the incident, he said hints that the identical incidents on the same day, in Lahore and Karachi, could be a deliberate attempt of sabotage and must be properly investigated.

“People must know whether these were due to negligence at different levels or terrorism related activity,” said the MNA.

Farooq Sattar said there was an urgent need to review the labour laws and factory act 1934, which must be updated in accordance to ILO convention to which Pakistan is also a signatory.

In reply to another question, he said the National Disaster Management Cell, which has been devolved under the 18th Constitutional Amendment to the provinces, needed to incorporate provisions for prevention and management of manmade disasters.

“Disaster Management Cell must evolve a mechanism to handle such incidents that can turn extremely catastrophic due to poor handling,” said Farooq Sattar.

He said the incident that occurred in Karachi on Tuesday is a national disaster and it was extremely important to assess all aspects of it.