KARACHI: Anti-terrorism court will announce its verdict on September 22 in the high-profile Baldia factory fire case, eight years after the terrifying industrial blaze.

The court reserved its verdict on September 2 as prosecution rested its case after recording material evidence including forensic, ballistic and chemical analysis reports and testimonies of 400 witnesses against the accused.

Over 250 workers were burnt alive when the multi-storey garment factory was set on fire in Baldia Town on September 11, 2012.

Initially, factory owner Abdul Aziz Bhaila, his two sons Arshad Bhaila and Shahid Bhaila, a general manager and four gatekeepers were charge-sheeted for their alleged negligence.

However, according to the JIT report, the factory fire was not an accident, it was an act of terrorism. The fire was started in the factory for non-payment of Rs200 million as extortion money, it stated.

According to report, MQM’s Hamad Siddiqui and Rehman Bhola demanded extortion money from the factory owner but the initial investigation had not mentioned about the extortion money anywhere in the FIR or in the investigation. NNI