Key Baldia factory fire suspect held in Thailand

KARACHI: The Thailand police with the assistance of Interpol arrested on Saturday a key suspect, alleged to be the mastermind of the Baldia garments factory fire in 2012. He was identified as Abdul Rehman alias Bhola. 

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) nominated two of its officers for taking custody of the suspect.

According to reports, the Pakistan government had written a letter to Interpol for assistance in arresting Bhola, who is charged with involvement in the deadly fire that had killed 260 labourers, including women.

Coordination between the agencies and Interpol came after they tracked Bhola in Thailand and the information was shared with the Thailand police.

On Saturday, the Thailand police with the help of Interpol raided a five-star hotel, arrested Bhola and shifted him to their headquarters.

Bhola along with his associates had allegedly set alight Ali Enterprises situated in Baldia Town in September 2012.

He later escaped from Pakistan after the arrest of his associates and an anti-terrorism court issued his non-bailable arrest warrant.

The FIA Sindh wrote a letter to the interior ministry with the subject No Objection Certificate, which states: “The undersigned is directed to refer to subject captioned above. Following officers have been nominated to arrest one Pakistani national Abdul Rehman, who is accused in case of Ali Enterprises Baldia Town incident in case FIR 343/12, of SITE Police Station, District West, Karachi.

The officers were Badaruddin Baloch, Deputy Director, Counter Terrorism Wing, FIA, Karachi and Rehmatullah Domki, Inspector CTW, FIA, Karachi.

Formal approval of Secretary Interior may be solicited please.”

Noor Aftab adds from Islamabad: A key suspect in Baldia Town factory fire case, 46-year-old Abdul Rehman alias Bhola will be brought back to Pakistan in the next couple of days and he is likely to be presented before the court on December 19 after being investigated for his alleged role in a horrific incident that claimed lives of 257 workers, sources told The News here on Saturday. 

"On return of Abdul Rehman alias Bhola, a joint investigation team will interrogate him and record his statement regarding the Baldia Town factory incident. His written statement regarding the allegations against him will also be produced in the court," the sources said. 

Abdul Rehman alias Bhola (CNIC 42401-3141925-7) used a Pakistani passport to travel to Thailand where he was spotted by Interpol and arrested in coordination with the Thai authorities, the sources said. The sources said the Pakistani authorities had no clue about the presence of Abdul Rehman alias Bhola in Bangkok but they came to know about it when the Thai police arrested him from a local hotel on a tip-off from an informer. They said the Pakistani authorities are in touch with the Thai officials and arrangements are being made for return of Abdul Rehman to Pakistan that would be highly critical to bring the Baldia Town fire case to its logical end. 

"The Pakistan Embassy in Thailand will prepare necessary documents after which the Thai authorities will formally hand over Abdul Rehman to the Pakistani team. He is believed to have played a key role in burning alive 257 workers on refusal to pay extortion (Bhatta) of Rs250 million by owners of Baldia Town factory," the sources said. 

According to Thai press, Abdul Rehman was arrested from Room 405 of the Royal Garden Home hotel in Bangkok after commandos from the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) and Interpol officers conducted a raid. 

The JIT formed to probe into the Baldia Town Factory case in its report stated "Abdul Rehman alias Bhola who is worker of Muttahida Qaumi Movement and an employee of Karachi Municipal Corporation’s health department along with his accomplices threw a chemical on the walls and gates that ignited a huge blaze at the factory." 

The owners of Baldia Town factory in their statement recorded by the JIT stated "We were leaving the factory late evening in July 2012 when we were stopped by Baldia sector in charge Rehman Bhola who threatened us to resolve the issue of extortion and contact Hammad Siddiqui, Karachi Tanzeemi Committee in charge, in this regard. On inquiring, he pitched the demand at Rs25 crore [Rs250 million] and partnership in the factory." The sources said Abdul Rehman is likely to make startling revelations that would have strong impact on fast changing political scene in Karachi.

AFP adds from Bangkok:  Abdul Rehman was detained at a hotel in the red light district Nana area of the capital on Friday evening, said Thailand’s Interpol chief.

"Thai Interpol tracked this suspect following an arrest warrant sought by the Pakistani authorities," Major General Apichart Suriboonya told AFP.  "He will be repatriated as soon as Pakistan is ready," he added.