Sindh seeks review of Baldia fire verdict

The Sindh government has approached the Supreme Court seeking a review of the recent verdict that cleared two

The Sindh government has approached the Supreme Court seeking a review of the recent verdict that cleared two men previously convicted in the tragic Baldia factory fire case.

The review petition was submitted at the Karachi Registry of the Supreme Court by Sindh Prosecutor General Shabbir Shah, requesting the court to reconsider its earlier ruling that overturned the convictions and ordered the release of the accused.

Last month, the Supreme Court acquitted Rehman Bhola and Zubair Chariya, setting aside the death sentences that had previously been awarded by an anti-terrorism court and later upheld by the Sindh High Court.

The apex court granted the accused the benefit of the doubt and ruled that the evidence presented was insufficient to maintain the convictions.

In its review petition, the provincial government argued that the judgment overlooked important testimony and material evidence presented during the trial.

The petition maintained that eyewitness accounts, medical reports and expert findings were not given due consideration in reaching the decision.

Officials further argued that evidence related to the alleged use of chemical substances in the fire and statements from injured survivors should have been examined more closely.

The provincial government also raised legal questions regarding the rights of victims’ families to challenge acquittals in terrorism-related cases under existing laws.

The Baldia factory tragedy remains one of the deadliest industrial disasters in Pakistan’s history.

The fire erupted at the Ali Enterprises factory in Karachi’s Baldia Town area on September 11, 2012, claiming the lives of more than 260 workers and injuring many others.

Investigations conducted over the years concluded that the blaze was not caused by an electrical short circuit, with forensic experts pointing towards the use of highly flammable material.

Earlier court proceedings had found the two accused guilty and upheld capital punishment sentences against them.

The latest review petition marks another major development in the long-running legal battle surrounding the tragedy, as victims’ families continue to seek justice more than a decade after the devastating incident.