KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday criticized the federal government and relevant authorities for their lack of progress in extraditing Hammad Siddiqui, a prime accused and proclaimed offender in the 2012 Baldia factory fire case, which claimed over 260 lives.
The constitutional bench, headed by Justice Muhammad Karim Khan Agha, was hearing the case concerning Siddiqui’s repatriation. Justice Agha expressed dissatisfaction, stating, “The court had ordered the extradition of Hammad Siddiqui. Why has the accused, involved in the killing of 266 people, not been brought back to the country?”
The bench also inquired who might be providing shelter to Siddiqui, who faces serious allegations. It further questioned the compliance with previous court directives, which included blocking Siddiqui’s national identity card (CNIC) and passport.
The Assistant Advocate General of Sindh attributed the delays to the federal government, asserting that the Ministry of Interior is responsible for the extradition process. The court criticized the ministry’s inaction, calling it a display of “incompetence.”
The Baldia Town factory fire on September 11, 2012, was one of Pakistan’s deadliest industrial disasters. An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) convicted Zubair alias Chariya and Abdul Rehman alias Bhola, sentencing them to death in 2020 for their roles in the tragedy. Four factory employees were handed life sentences, although one of them, Fazal Ahmed, has since died in custody.
The SHC’s bench reiterated its directive to block the CNICs and passports of Siddiqui, along with two other accused, Taqi Haider Shah and Khurram Nisar, and demanded a comprehensive update on measures taken to ensure their extradition.
