NEWSCLIPPINGS
JANUARY TO JUNE 2017
HUTS ON FIRE
Urban Resource Centre A-2, 2nd floor, Westland Trade Centre, Block 7&8, C-5, Shaheed-e-Millat Road, Karachi. Tel: 021-4559317, Fax: 021-4387692, Email: [email protected], Website: www.urckarachi.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/URCKHI Twitter: https://twitter.com/urc_karachi Five more workers burnt to death at Gadani
Just a day after the death of a young man working at one of the ship-breaking yards in Gadani, five labourers burnt to death when a fire erupted inside a ship at another yard on Monday morning.
All the five workers hailed from Swat. This time the incident occurred in yard no 60, which belongs to Deewan Rizwan Farooqui, chairman of the Pakistan Ship-Breaking Association.
It was around 10am. The men had just taken a short break for tea being served to everyone inside the depths of the metal giant they were dismantling when the cork underlayment installed for insulation of the gas tanks suddenly caught fire, which grew out of control within seconds.
Naimat Shah, Mohammad Sabir, Ali Jan, Mohammad Saeed and Saeed Khan were hired to pick up the scrap from the ship, a liquified petroleum gas (LPG) tanker, so that it didn‘t collect in the front or get in the way of other workers. ―The ship is an LPG tanker. It had plenty of cork and foam insulation between its tanks,‖ said Rahim Khan, who drives a forklift in the same yard.
―There were some 60 people working on the ship at the time. All got caught up in the flames. Luckily, we were able to rescue them from the seaside in the life raft of the same ship lying handy,‖ he said.
―It is the second time that there has been a fire in the same ship. The first time was just a couple of weeks ago,‖ he added.
This time it was believed for a while that there were no casualties until the workers realised that five men were missing.
―The iron sheets cut from the ship had to be laid on the shipyard ground for the fire tenders to drive over them in order to be able to reach close to the burning vessel. After the fire was extinguished, three [bodies] were found in the folds of the ship upstairs and two much later at the bottom. It was so dark and there was still so much smoke inside, we were blinded by it. But then we found them.
The bodies are burnt beyond recognition,‖ said Usman Khan, who had come to help from another ship- breaking yard, his face and clothes black from soot.
The shipyard also has Deewan Rizwan‘s office housed in an annexe. ―He was right here when it all happened, ordering us to keep going, and hurry it up as they have had to bear too many losses due to the break in work after the MT Aces inferno tragedy of Nov 1 in which 26 workers died. Anyway, he has been taken into custody now,‖ said Usman.
According to the National Trade Union Federation, Deewan and four others have been booked under Sections 304 (qatl-i-amd liable to qisas), 322 (qatl bis-sabab liable to diyat), 287 (negligent conduct with respect to machinery) and 34 (with common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
The workers said the LPG tanker was beached some three months ago and the more time it took in dismantling it, the more it cost the ship breaker. ―The cutting of metal is only carried out after the cork insulation has been removed because it is inflammable, which was not happening here,‖ said Saleem Mohammad, mourning the loss of his co-workers in the little hospital up ahead on the broken road where the charred bodies were shifted.
―Earlier, when a gas cylinder burst during work in the same ship, I was laid off for nine days as I was blamed for being careless. I was not paid a single paisa during this time and my friends here bought me food, otherwise I would have starved to death.‖
Saleem said he had finally decided to leave Gadani for good. ―I can‘t work here under these conditions. This time it is them, the next it could be my charred or crushed body lying inside,‖ he added.
However, another worker lashed out at his co-workers following the tragedy. ―The owners don‘t take any precautionary measure because of my co-workers. There is just no unity among us. When we go on strike until conditions improve, they tell the owners that they are willing to work in our place. Things in Gadani will never improve. Workers will keep on dying if this keeps on happening. Life has no value here,‖ he said.
Balochistan CM seeks report Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri has expressed deep sorrow and grief over the deaths and sought report about the repeated fire incidents in the ship, adds our staff reporter from Quetta.
He said all institutions including ship breakers should work with responsibility to prevent recurrence of such tragic incidents in future. ―Nobody would be allowed to play with the lives of poor labourers,‖ said Mr Zehri.
He directed officials concerned to submit the investigation report of the Nov 1 Gadani carnage that claimed 27 lives. ―Strict legal action would be taken against those who were found responsible for the tragic incident,‖ he warned and summoned a high-level meeting on Tuesday to take up the Gadani issue.
He said that best available health facilities be given to the injured labourers. (By Shazia Hasan Dawn 17, 10/01/2017)
Three children die of suffocation in Lyari building fire
Three children, including a girl, on Tuesday died of suffocation and their parents fainted as a fire broke out in their six-story residence building in Lyari.
Asphyxiation proved fatal for the children, identified as five-year-old Amna, three- year-old Aliyan, one-year-old Abdul Aziz, while their parents, Umair and Shamim, are under treatment, said doctors at the Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK).
According to police, the fire erupted at around 4:30am at first floor of the Noor Manzil, situated in Memon Society, the Kalri police remit.
Fire fighters, who failed to reach the spot immediately, took an hour to douse the fire after their arrival.
After the blaze was brought under control, a police team entered the building which they founded the family members lying unconscious in their home. They were moved to the CHK, where the children died during treatment. Umair, who is a labourer, and his wife, Shamim, are in critical condition. Police believed the family members were sleeping when the fire broke out in the building.
As per the preliminary investigation, the fire was caused by an electric short-circuit. Further investigation is underway. (The News 13, 11/01/2017)
Police name Hammad Siddiqui as prime suspect in fourth charge sheet of Baldia fire
Police submitted on Wednesday the fourth charge sheet in the Baldia factory fire case before an anti- terrorism court, incriminating political activist Hammad Siddiqui as a suspected arsonist.
Accepting the charge sheet, the ATC-II judge issued the non-bailable warrants for Siddiqui‘s arrest, along with two others. The former KTC chief is said to have fled abroad, therefore, the court also asked the police to approach the relevant authorities to get red warrants for his arrest in other countries.
Baldia factory fire: Investigators closing in on second suspect The fire at Ali Enterprises garments factory located in Baldia Town on September 11, 2012 left 260 people dead and injured several others. The supplementary charge sheet, 238-D/2012, was formed after Abdul Rehman alias Bhola, a former sector incharge of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) who later joined the Pak Sarzameen Party, was arrested in Bangkok by Interpol in mid-December.
A Federal Investigation Agency team brought him back to the country and then handed him over to the police. While in custody he ‗confessed‘ before a judicial magistrate.
According to him, the fire was caused to ‗teach the factory owners a lesson and inflict loss on them‘ over their refusal to pay extortion and give a share in profits to Hammad Siddiqui, the then head of the MQM‘s Karachi Tanzimi Committee.
Rehman said that Hammad had demanded Rs250 million as protection money and a share in the profits from the factory owners, the Bhailas.
When they refused, Rehman, being the adhoc incharge of MQM‘s Baldia Town Sector, was tasked with committing arson at the factory with the use of chemicals.
The fact that it was a planned arson was revealed in February, 2015, nearly three years after the incident. Earlier, it was deemed as an accident which turned into a tragedy due to a lack of safety measures at the factory. The factory owners were relieved of the charges.
The fourth charge sheet also read the name of MQM lawmaker Rauf Siddiqui, the then minister of industries and trade in Sindh, as a suspect who allegedly took money from the factory owners to give them relief in the criminal proceedings against them.
Baldia factory fire: Key suspect brought back to Karachi from Bangkok Umar Hasan Qadri and Ali Hasan Qadri, two businessmen brothers, Dr Abdul Sattar and Iqbal Adeeb Khanum have been named as facilitators.
Only two suspects, Rehman and Zubair alias Charya, are in custody. The Qadri brothers are on interim bail, while Rauf has also obtained protective bail, though he has not been implicated as yet despite being named. The ATC-II judge issued non-bailable warrants for the arrest of Sattar, Khanum and Hammad.
The next hearing of the case has been fixed on February 14. The court has directed Rauf to join the investigation. (By Zubair Ashraf The Express Tribune 13, 26/01/2017)
Supplementary charge sheet filed in factory fire case
Police submitted on Wednesday a supplementary charge sheet against a recently arrested suspectand asked the court to direct the Muttahida Qaumi Movement lawmaker Rauf Siddiqui to join the investigation in the Baldia factory fire case.
The investigating officer filed the investigation report against the former sector incharge of the MQM Abdul Rehman, alias Bhola, but it was silent regarding the fate of Mr Siddiqui, who obtained pre-arrest bail after Abdul Rehman named him in his confessional statement before a magistrate.
When the ATC-H judge asked about the final investigation report, special public prosecutor Sajid Mahboob Shaikh said it was not being filed as the MQM MPA was on bail and he had not joined the investigation.
He said the fate of Mr Siddiqui would be decided after questioning him and asked the court to order the MPA to join the probe.
According to the supplementary charge sheet, Abdul Rehman, who was brought back after his arrest in Bangkok through Interpol in December, during interrogation disclosed that he with Zubair, alias Charya, and others set the factory ablaze on the instruction of then chief of the MQM organising committee Hammad Siddigui as the factory owners had refused to pay the demanded protection money and `partnership`.
The suspect also said that after the incident Rauf Siddiqui allegedly got a case registered against the owners of the industrial unit.
Then the suspect said that he came to know that Rauf and Hammad received Rs40 million to Rs50 million from the owners to tone down the case against them, it added. (By Ishaq Tanoli Dawn 17, 26/01/2017)
Baldia factory tragedy: ‘We don’t want compensation in instalments’
The Baldia factory fire victims rejected on Wednesday the proposal that they will be delivered the final compensation of more than $5 million through the social security and pension fund institutions in installments, rather than through the judiciary in lump sum mode.
At their general body meeting at the National Trade Union Federation (NTUF) office, leaders and members of the Ali Enterprises Fire Affectees Association, which comprises survivors and families of victims of the blaze, criticised German company KiK Textilien und Non-Food Gmbh chief executive officer Patrick Zahn for being in Pakistan and scheduling a press briefing today (Thursday) but not taking them on board.
Deadly blaze: Baldia factory arsonist confesses in court Advertisement KiK procured most of the products made at Ali Enterprises, dubbed as the Baldia factory, for years before a fire ripped through it on September 11, 2012 claiming 260 lives and wounding several others. After paying $1 million as immediate relief, it pledged to pay a calculated $5.15 million as long-term compensation to the victims in September, 2016 in an agreement signed in Geneva.
The victims‘ association accused the KiK management of exhibiting ‗cold behaviour‘ and not offering an apology for the losses they suffered in the fire. They believed that the fire was caused and intensified due to the lack of health and safety measures and negligence on the part of the factory owners and their clients, including KiK, as they were bound to ensure these, legally as well as ethically.
―We won‘t accept the compensation in installments after more than four years. It is like multiplying our miseries. We have lost our loved ones in the fire, who were bread winners for the family,‖ said Saeeda Khatoon, senior vice-president of the victims‘ association, at the meeting. ―After their deaths, we are left with no option but to survive on our own,‖ she added. She lost her only son in the fire.
Among the attendees, two women also narrated similar tales and expressed annoyance over the delay in delivering the sum. ―For the past few months we have been told that the money has arrived. But it is nowhere in sight. We have a daughter to marry off. How will we be able to manage this when the one who took this responsibility died in the fire?‖ complained one of the women.
Baldia factory fire: Key suspect brought back to Karachi from Bangkok Case will be pursued NTUF deputy general secretary Nasir Mansoor said that the lawsuit filed against KiK in the regional court of Dortmund, Germany will still be pursued even though the company has deposited the money with one of the parties involved in the negotiation for dispensation. ―The case was never about the money. It was for a legal binding on companies that purchase their merchandise from third-world countries at cheaper rates, overlooking the workers‘ safety and rights,‖ he said. The court hearing the case has accepted its jurisdiction over the matter, granting legal aid to the claimants and is now considering whether KiK could be held accountable for the fire or not, the meeting was told, the decision on the pending matter is expected in middle of this year. (The Express Tribune 14, 02/02/2017)
$5.15m to be disbursed to Baldia factory fire victims’ families
German company KiK Textilien has signed an agreement with the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (Piler) to disburse $5.15 million to the families of victims of the Baldia Town factory fire.
Under the agreement, a specific compensation amount will be given to the families of the victims every month.
It is described as a lifelong compensation ―which will look after the financial needs of the families‖.
The agreement was signed during a ceremony on Thursday which was attended by the German consul general, the country director of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and members of the business community.
Country director of ILO Ingrid Christensen confirmed that her organisation had received the amount of $5.15m in December 2016 and a mechanism to disburse the amount was being designed.
She said that the ILO was working on implementation modality, oversight mechanism and establishment of a trust fund. She added that the ILO ―would be able to disburse the funds within three months‖.
The agreement brings to an end a two-year-old feud between the German textile company and Piler.
Soon after the fire at the garment manufacturing company (Ali Enterprises) in which 259 workers were killed in Sept 2012, Piler and German textile company KiK — that bought garments from Ali Enterprises — deliberated on a compensation process for the families of victims.
In a memorandum of understanding signed between the two parties in Dec 2012 three points were decided: payment of one million dollars as an immediate relief would be given, which was later distributed through the judicial commission set up by the Sindh High Court.
Retired Justice Rahmat Hussain Jafery was the head of the commission ensuring that the disbursement reached the rightful heirs of the victims.
Second point was that lifelong compensation would be given to the families as pension for the rest of their lives.
And third point was that an assistance of $250,000 would be given to Piler to enforce and inspect labour laws in Pakistan.
The German company backed off from the second point of the agreement, counsel for the Baldia factory fire victims advocate Faisal Siddiqi had announced at a press conference.
Through the subsequent cases filed in Dortmund, Germany, by the heirs of the victims and the counsel himself, the textile company was once again brought to discuss the compensation.
Also, timely intervention by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development led to the decision to choose the ILO as mediator between KiK and Piler which was accepted by both parties.
In the latter half of 2016, the ILO officials came to Karachi to meet rights activists and review the incident which some ILO officials believed was ―falling prey to over-compensation‖.
At present, some 30 factories are providing their products to KiK and 20 of them are located in Karachi.
Chief executive officer of KiK Patrick Zahn said his company fulfilled its commitments.
―No amount of money can bring back the family members or can [undo] this incident. But, money can help to better deal with the consequences of the accident,‖ he said.
He added that the responsibility for the safety of the factory remained with the owner and not with KiK.
Executive director of Piler Karamat Ali said: ―KiK approached us soon after the incident and offered to compensate.‖
Soon after his speech, the agreement was signed between them.
Protest against instalments Meanwhile, representatives of the National Trade Union Federation along with families of the Baldia factory fire victims held a protest at the Karachi Press Club.
They protested against the disbursement of amount in instalments and demanded that the amount should be given in a lump sum.
Deputy secretary general of the NTUF Nasir Mansoor said the CEO of KiK should have met and consoled the families of the victims. (By Saher Baloch Dawn 18, 03/02/2017)
Of work and ethics: Baldia families protest as KiK marks end of payments
A Germany-based company partially accused of overlooking workers safety in the Baldia factory marked the completion of compensation payments on Thursday amid protests by families for being left out.
KiK Textilien faced a lot of heat from local and international organisations for failing to ensure safety standards at the Baldia garment factory, which was one of its suppliers. Over 250 workers lost their lives in a deadly fire that erupted in September 2012. KiK agreed to pay compensation to the victims‘ families and Thursday marked the official completion of the payments. At a press briefing at Movenpick hotel, KiK Textilien und Non-Food Gmbh chief executive officer Patrick Zahn and Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (Piler) director Karamat Ali signed the papers. They contended that all the terms of the agreement reached between them, three months after the fire, were fulfilled as KiK agreed to pay long-term compensation worth $5.15 million.
―I want to express my deepest sympathy for the losses that so many families had to bear,‖ said Zahn. ―Many workers still suffer from health impairments. No amount of money will bring back beloved family members. But yes, money can help to better deal with the consequences.‖ Zahn said that KiK was not legally liable but decided to pay the amount assuming moral responsibility. ―We were well aware that the Pakistani social security system is not yet capable of covering the compensation in full,‖ he said.
Advertisement Piler‘s Ali broached on ‗arson‘ as a possible cause of the fire. ―Even if it was a terrorist attack though that there is no proof to it, the fact remains that people were trapped and would have been trapped regardless of the nature of the fire,‖ he said.
German consul-general Rainer Schmiedchen said, ―I can hardly imagine anything horrible than a child, a son or a daughter, passing away before the parents.‖
People should feel responsible to help with expertise, with compliance and with constant checking that those who produce what they buy everyday are not in danger during the production, during their daily work, advised Schmiedchen.
Others who spoke at the event include German Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Qazi Sajid Ali, Employers Federation of Pakistan president Majyd Aziz Balagamawala and International Labor Organization country director Ingrid Christensen.
Victims criticise KiK, PILER Meanwhile, the families of the victims — Ali Enterprises Factory Fire Affectees Association (AEFFAA) — gathered at Karachi Press Club to protest the agreement.
―You are here in the very city where 260 people were killed just because of your‘s and your partner‘s negligence,‖ said AEFFAA senior vice-president Saeeda Khatoon, who lost her teenage son in the fire. ―You don‘t even care to come to us to offer condolences or at least include us in the process.‖
A number of families took part in the protest and held placards inscribed with statements against the KiK management. They said that no NGO or any other organisation represented them apart from themselves. Saeeda complained they were not invited to the ceremony, claiming that it showed how much the company cared for the families. Though the 2012 KiK-Piler agreement was signed without taking the families on board, they remained quiet because they believed it was for them, she added.
Meanwhile, KiK senior media consultant Dr Dorothea Jestadt maintained that it was Piler‘s decision to not invite the victims to the briefing. Piler‘s Shujauddin said that they had some victims‘ families with them but they were not associated with AEFFAA. (By Zubair Ashraf The Express Tribune 13, 03/02/2017)
Regent Plaza’s fire safety system was outdated, court told
Police on Saturday submitted the final charge sheet in the Regent Plaza fire case stating that the fire safety system in the hotel, installed over 20 years ago, was outdated.
The hotel‘s chief executive officer, Muzaffar Baweja, managing director Zubair Baweja, chief security officer retired Major Mohammad Saad, chief engineer Arshad Mughal and supervising engineer Saleem Pervez have been booked for manslaughter after 12 people, including five doctors, were killed and around 80 others were wounded in a huge fire at the hotel on Dec 5, 2016.
The investigation officer, Amir Altaf, filed the final investigation report before the court of a judicial magistrate (south).
The report said that the fire and safety system, installed in the hotel in 1994, had become dysfunctional. Civil defence officials had also not validated the documents produced by the suspects regarding fire- fighting equipment at the hotel.
Advertisement The police report further said that one operator of the CCTV cameras, who had no idea about fire and safety, was present in the control room at the time of the incident.
The smoke-detection system was installed last year only at the mezzanine and first floors of the hotel, it concluded.
The suspects are on interim pre-arrest bail from a sessions court.
A case was registered against the suspects under Sections 322 (punishment for qatl bis sabab), 337-A (punishment of shajjah), 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code at the Saddar police station.
Order on Saleem Shahzad’s bail next month An antiterrorism court reserved on Saturday its order on the bail application of former Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Saleem Shahzad in a case pertaining to providing shelter and treatment to alleged terrorists.
The applicant, who was arrested shortly after he landed at Karachi airport on Feb 6, moved the bail plea submitting that he came back from Dubai to surrender himself before the court, but was arrested at the airport.
He submitted that he was also entitled to bail since the court had granted bail to all other accused in this case.
After hearing arguments from both sides, the ATC-II judge reserved the order till March 11.
Meanwhile, the court also issued a notice to the prosecutor for Feb 24 to argue on an application of Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar seeking permission to go to Iran on an official visit.
Former federal minister Dr Asim Hussain has been booked for allegedly treating and harbouring suspected terrorists, political militants and gangsters at his hospital. Pak Sarzameen Party president Anis Kaimkhani, Mayor Akhtar, MQM lawmaker Rauf Siddiqui, PPP‘s Abdul Qadir Patel, Mr Shahzad and Usman Moazzam of Pasban have been named as co-accused for allegedly asking Dr Asim to treat alleged militants. (By Ishaq Tanoli Dawn 17, 19/02/2017)
Heirs of Baldia fire victims told to review demand for lump sum pension
Heirs of the Baldia factory fire victims have been asked to ―calmly rethink‖ their demand for a lump sum in compensation which has been recently agreed upon between a German textile company and a Pakistani labour rights organisation.
A meeting of the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (Piler) and the heirs of the Ali Enterprises fire victims was held at PMA House on Sunday afternoon.
Advocate Faisal Siddiqi and Karamat Ali, executive director of Piler, took questions from the heirs of the fire victims in order to know the payment options best suited to them. The disagreement surfaced at the meeting when the families reiterated their demand that they be given a lump sum after the recent agreement with the German textile company for long-term compensation of $5.15 million.
The compensation amount adds up to Rs920 million of which Rs500 million will be given to the families as pension.
Advertisement The families demanded the payment of pension at once so that they would not have to rely on the social security institutions and Employees Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI). Most cited delay in receiving pension as their reason to not rely on the institution.
Speaking to the families, Advocate Siddiqi said: ―It is your money that is under the supervision of International Labour Organisation (ILO) at the moment. It won‘t go to anyone else until you decide otherwise.‖
The ILO was requested to mediate between KiK and Piler by the German government in March last year, when an earlier disagreement on Dec 23, 2012 between the two led to a two-year feud.
Gilber Houngbo, deputy director general of ILO, had convened a meeting upon recommendation and support of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and with the representatives of the KiK, the Clean Clothes Campaign and the IndustriALL Global Union in Geneva to sort out the issue. The two organisations, IndustriAll Global Union and Clean Clothes Campaign, fought for the rights of the Pakistani labourers in Germany. It led to the recent signing of the agreement to disburse $5.15 million under the supervision of ILO.
On the day of the signing of the agreement, the heirs of the victims staged protests demanding that they be given entire compensation at once. Mr Siddiqi said, ―The problem is that it is not part of the agreement. Pension will increase during your lifetime. But if the dispute went on, it may bring the compensation process to a halt.‖
He explained the pension would be settled on Rs25,500 per family affected by the tragedy. A retired judge would be made part of a commission, with a representative from the heirs, to oversee the compensation process so that it reached ―genuine people‖, he added.
A government representative Gulfam Memon iterated the same and pledged that the families ―will receive help at every step‖.
The families, however, had their reasons for not trusting the compensation process.
A woman from the audience told the panellists that her nine-year-old niece was refused pension because she ―did not have a smart card‖. She added that when they went back to the EOBI office, they were informed that ―their file is missing‖. A man, who introduced himself as Allah Bukhsh, said: ―I received pension after three years of running from one government office to another.‖
The process is still under consideration until the next meeting between the families and the labour organisation. (By Saher Baloch Dawn 15, 20/02/2017)
Landhi inferno: Empty factory saved lives in fire far deadlier than Baldia's
Had it not been Friday when most employees had gone for Friday prayers, the fire that broke out in Landhi‘s denim factory would have been far deadlier than the one in Baldia in 2012 when over 250 workers died.
It was not until early Saturday morning that the fire fighters were able to put out the fire that started nearly 24 hours ago in the weaving department on the second floor of Rajwani Denim Mills in Landhi.
By Saturday afternoon, the building walls had turned entirely black and a few walls had collapsed. Small flames spilled out of huge openings in the building and flickered as the wind blew.
Workers remain unharmed in Landhi’s denim factory fire It was sheer luck that the nearly 300 employees, who are usually on duty during the day shift, had gone for prayers otherwise the poor safety measures at the factory would have proved fatal.
―There was a spark in some electric panel that turned into a fire,‖ said Nadeem Masih, a Christian employee who was present at the factory. There were a few manual extinguishers inside the department that Masih and his colleagues used to douse the fire. These men did not have much luck and the fire quickly spread through the building.
―We shouted for help but no one turned up,‖ he said, adding that they used the stairs to run out of the building. There wasn‘t any fire emergency exit that was open, he claimed. ―We are alive only because we held our breath until we were out of the building.‖
Up in flames: All of city’s fire tenders rush to Landhi to put out factory blaze Another worker, Rehmat Sawati, who was on the ground floor, claimed there was neither any fire alarm nor any sprinkler system installed inside the building. ―I came to know about the fire when I started suffocating due to the smoke,‖ he said.
Even Karachi Metropolitan Corporation‘s (KMC) chief fire officer Tehseen Siddiqui pointed out there were no safety measures inside the factory. ―They had millions of litres of chemicals but no fire alarm system, no automatic sprinklers or even water tank for fire installed,‖ he pointed out. The only underground water tanker was between two boilers where no one would dare to step during a fire, he added.
The bylaws According to the Sindh Building Control Authority‘s (SBCA) bylaws, all the buildings that are ground-plus- three storeys or more should be provided a set of standpipes system, which should be installed in a vertical position to which fire hoses can be connected so that water can be poured manually.
Wither fire safety: Karachi at mercy of an ill-resourced emergency response system Every standpipe should be equipped with a fire department-approved inlet connection of corrosion- resistive metal. The bylaws also make it mandatory for all ground-plus-three buildings should have automatic, sprinkler systems and proper exits.
All industrial units were given 15 days to implement the prescribed firefighting arrangements and associated protective measures falling under rules of the Civil Defence Act 1951 within 15 days, according to a 2014 notification issued by the then District South deputy commissioner (DC) Mustafa Jamal Kazi, and Korangi DC Zubair Ahmed Channa.
These units are supposed to set up their own civil defence organisation, establish a fire fighting squad and obtain necessary training from the provincial Civil Defence Department. All factories and commercial units are also supposed to establish a ‗warning system‘ and provide adequate ‗means of escape‘.
Shifting responsibility Meanwhile, Rajwani Denim Mills general manager Hasnain A Sheikh said it was not their responsibility to provide water to the KMC fire tenders. The first fire brigade reached the spot after 2.5 hours with no backup for water and foam, he complained.
11 killed, 75 injured as fire erupts at Karachi’s Regent Plaza Hotel An official of the KMC fire department at the site pointed out that there were as many as 14 fire tenders, two bowsers and one snorkel to put out the fire. ―Until 5am, the fire was in its full intensity,‖ he said, adding that the fire died after it had burnt down everything inside the building.
Sheikh also pointed out that no SBCA official has visited the factory after the inferno. The company was examining the structure of the building through its own structural engineers, he said.
However, SBCA spokesperson Farhan Qaiser insisted their team had already visited the building and will pay another visit on Monday after which they will decide whether or not the building needs to be demolished.
As for inspecting bylaws for fire safety, Qaiser said that was the mandate of the Civil Defence department. Sheikh said that the Civil Defence department carries out yearly inspections. (By Oonib Azam The Express Tribune 13, 12/03/2017)
Toddler dies in North Nazimabad hut fire
A child was killed and another suffered burn wounds in a fire that gutted eight huts in a North Nazimabad locality on Monday, officials said.
They said that the blaze erupted in huts located behind the Imambargah Zainul Abideen near Nagan Chowrangi at around 1.57pm.
Fire brigade officials said that two fire tenders were dispatched to the scene and the firefighters put out the blaze in around two hours.
Two-and-half-year-old Tania Tanveer died while Azeem, 3, suffered burn wounds.
The fire destroyed eight huts, but dozens of others were saved by the rescuers.
The officials said there were around 100 huts, where both Muslims and Hindus lived.
The exact cause of the fire could not be ascertained immediately. However, Shahrahi-Noor Jehan SHO Abdul Ghaffar ruled out the possibility of any sabotage.
He told Dawn that initial investigation suggested that some children were playing with a matchbox on the occasion of Holi when someone lit a match stick and a hut caught fire. In no time, the fire spread to other huts, which were made of bamboo and wood. (Dawn 17, 14/03/2017)
Saeeda Khatoon details life of son who died in Baldia factory fire
Aijaz Ahmed was Saeeda Khatoon‘s only son. Her husband had passed away when Aijaz was only two years old. Since then, the two had lived together until the deadly Baldia factory fire in 2012 claimed the life of Aijaz, who was 18 years old at the time, along with 259 others.
Forty-year-old Saeeda wipes the sweat on her forehead as she settles herself in a seat at the auditorium of Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi. Moments ago, she had delivered a fiery speech, urging the female audience to understand their rights and learn to fight for them otherwise society will suppress them. She was addressing a convention of home-based workers on International Women‘s Day.
These activities have kept me going, she says. ―Attending and organising rallies for human rights has brought me so far,‖ she says. ―Otherwise what has happened was enough for me to die.‖
Advertisement Baldia factory fire victims’ families rally against compensation issue Saeeda maintains her composure as she delves into the memories of her son. She does not face you while talking – instead stares obliviously at whatever is in front of her as her face transforms from serious to tearful. She then goes on to narrate what had happened.
Her only child He was in the cutting department of the garment factory, says Saeeda as she starts talking about her deceased son. ―Like every mother, he was very close to me,‖ she recalls. ―Since his father had passed away when he was two, both of us had lived our lives depending upon each other.‖
Saeeda shares that she would always take care of what Aijaz liked to eat. ―Before he would come back from the factory after his 12- to 14-hour shift, I prepared the best food I could for him,‖ she says.
Interpol nets key suspect in deadly Baldia factory fire The 40-year-old woman does not remember now what she had cooked for her son on September 11, 2012 – the unfortunate day of the deadly blaze. ―Whatever it was, it was left untouched,‖ she recalls. ―It was 6:15pm when I came to know about the fire. I rushed to the site hoping with all my heart that Aijaz would have walked out of the fire up by now.‖
Sadly, her hopes were not to materialise. ―I had hopes he would come out safely with minor injuries,‖ she recounts as tears roll down her cheeks. ―Later, I was informed about his burnt body.‖
Baldia factory fire: A tale of continuous struggle and broken promises Saeeda has never cooked since. According to her, she mostly eats one meal during the entire day. Even though she keeps herself occupied with her activism and court hearings, returning home is yet another struggle she faces each day. ―Upon returning home, I become terrified by the thoughts of the horrific incident,‖ she weeps. ―When I look towards the kitchen, the voice of my son echoes in my ears, saying ‗Ammi khaanay mein job bhi banaya hai bus jaldi lay aein, bohot thak gaya hun [Mother, please bring whatever you have cooked, I‘m very tired].‖
The struggle must go on Saeeda‘s resilience is a feat few can achieve. After losing her only son to the deadly blaze five years ago, she has dedicated her life to the fight for justice. The horrific tragedy changed the lives of the families of all the 260 victims. Saeeda‘s courage offers them a glimmer of hope.
Deadly arson : JIT to quiz Baldia factory fire suspect When asked about her activism, Saeeda says that it‘s a long tale.
―After this incident, the victims‘ families had no idea what were they supposed to do,‖ she recalls. ―But we kept on attending rallies and were invited by different NGOs.‖ It was then that the deputy general secretary of National Trade Union Federation (NTUF), Nasir Mansoor, advised her to form an association of the victims. ―Then I started working on it.‖
Saeeda would visit every victim‘s family and explain to them how they achieve justice by working together. ―The families were earlier reluctant,‖ she says. ―But we finally formed Ali Enterprises Factory Fire Affectees Association.‖
The harsh realities of life have changed Saeeda – she has transformed into a seasoned labour leader now. ―They might have thought of me as just another suppressed woman,‖ she says. ―But I had changed. The sacrifice of my son and the pain had translated into a new feeling and I don‘t know what I should call it – it was a mixture of emotions and courage that turned me into an activist. I started uniting all the victims, organising rallies and protests with them.‖
Baldia factory fire: Rehman Bhola confesses involvement before police Saeeda has visited Germany and Nepal for labour conferences. ―I have nothing to achieve other than justice for the innocent people who were burnt alive,‖ she says. ―Apart from this, I will spend the rest of my life encouraging women to make the right decisions and learn and fight for their rights.‖
Meanwhile, the 40-year-old woman has a number of achievements to her credit. She has emerged as a front line labour leader in the struggle for justice for Baldia factory fire victims. It was in her leadership that the victims forced the German clothing giant, KiK, partially accused of overlooking health and safety measures at the Ali Enterprises, to pay the due compensation. Saeeda, however, says that money was not the goal for her and other victims‘ families. They are aiming to continue their struggle for betterment of workplaces safety so that no one else should suffer the same fate as their loved ones.
Disbursement of compensation: ILO promises to address concerns of Baldia factory fire victims ―Five years ago, I had never thought I will be addressing women about their rights,‖ says Saeeda. ―But this is what life is. You never know what turns it takes.‖ (By SHEHARYAR ALI The Express Tribune 13, 01/04/2017)
Five members of a family buried in Baldia Town landslide
A 60-year-old man, his three children and a nephew were buried beneath a landslide in Baldia Town in the early hours of Thursday while his three daughters were pulled out in injured condition from under the rubble by rescuers.
The bodies of Zamir Gul, his 12-year-old son Abdullah, his two daughters namely Iqra, 18, and Kainat, 19, and his nine-year-old nephew Atif Nisar were recovered after hectic efforts. His three other daughters, identified as Yusra, 8, Muskan, 10, and Roma, 14, were injured in the incident.
The two residents who remained unhurt were the widow of Zamir Gul, Nagina Bibi, who was offering Tahajjud prayer at the time of the incident, and her sister, according to the Ittehad Town police.
Blaming ‗encroachment‘ upon the hill for the tragedy, officials got many houses in the Gulshan-i-Ghazi area evacuated followed by an anti-encroachment operation launched on the order of the deputy commissioner of Karachi District West with the help of heavy machinery.
The area police said all the family members, except Nagina Bibi, were sleeping when a heavy rock fell on the house destroying most of its structure.
The incident occurred at around quarter to four in the morning. The huge bang caused panic in the area. But people later rushed to the spot on receiving information about the incident as appeals for help were made from area mosques.
In the meantime, rescue services, police and the Rangers arrived in the area though they faced difficulties in getting access to the affected structure in the densely populated hilly area. However, after hectic efforts lasting more than an hour, five bodies were retrieved from under the rubble. The three injured girls were pulled out alive from the debris and shifted to Civil Hospital Karachi.
―Five persons were brought dead at the hospital at around 5:45am,‖ said Additional Police Surgeon at the CHK Dr Karar Ahmed Abbasi. Three injured girls were also brought for treatment, he added.
The youngest of the deceased was only nine, said Ittehad Town SHO Shakeel Sherwani. He added the victim, Atif, who was the son of Zamir‘s cousin and his wife‘s sister, had come to stay at his uncle‘s home on the fateful night. His own house was also situated in the same vicinity, the police official added.
Baldia SP Asif Razzaq Abbasi told Dawn that Zamir Gul was a labourer, hailing from Swat, who had shifted to this area some years ago. He said most houses in the area were built on land retrieved after cutting the hills. Due to this practice, the structure of the hills had weakened, which was the cause of landslides, he said.
―A few such incidents had occurred in the past,‖ said another police officer, Shakeel Sherwani. Gulshan-i- Ghazi area was established around 30 years ago, he added.
Ittehad Town SHO apprehended there were ‗three to four pieces of heavy rocks‘ separated from the hills which could fall on the settlement at any moment.
Following the deaths, officials asked the people residing in the neighbourhood to vacate their homes to avoid any tragedy. Later, the deputy commissioner of District West with the help of heavy machinery and backed by the local police launched an operation in the area to remove ‗encroachments,‘ said the police officer. (By Imtiaz Ali Dawn 17, 07/04/2017)
Warehouse, scrap shop gutted in Saddar fires
Mayor expresses concern over fire department‘s lack of resources A day after a massive fire ravaged a factory in Korangi Industrial Area, a warehouse and a scrap shop were gutted in two fires that broke out in Saddar on Monday.
As per an official of the fire brigade, the Saddar fire station received information of a fire burning in an open plot - near Rainbow Centre - used for carrying out woodworks, at around 1:18pm.
Initially two fire tenders were dispatched but the blaze soon spread engulfing a nearby godown – used for storing firecrackers - and a seminary.
The firecrackers intensified the blaze, resulting in it spreading to the seminary adjacent to the warehouse, said chief fire officer Tehseen Ahmed.
An emergency was imposed in water hydrants being run by the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB).
The fire-fighters managed to put the fire out in over three hours. Around 10 fire tenders and two water bowsers were used in the rescue operation.
He maintained that the reason of the fire would only be ascertained after the completion of an inquiry. Ahmed added that the sites were being cooled down, whereas two fire tenders were still stationed there in case of an emergency.
The CFO further said that the fireworks‘ warehouse was reduced to ashes in the incident.
Speaking to The News, Jamshaid Quarters SP Dr Rizwan Ahmed said the situation worsened when fireworks stored in the warehouse caught fire. The SP added that the fire broke out within the limits of the Saddar police station, but advanced towards the Brigade police station owing to direction of the winds.
A scrap shop within the ambit of the Preedy police station was gutted after garbage in an adjacent dump was set on fire. SHO Aurangzaib Khattak said the fire started from a garbage dump and engulfed the scrap shop.
He added that fire tenders reached the site on time and doused down the fire immediately.
On April 1, a garments factory in the Export Processing Zone Authority (EPZA) was gutted in a fire. The blaze started at around 1am. After residents approached the Landhi Fire Station, three fire tenders were initially dispatched to the scene at 3:48am.
According to the central control room of the fire station, after the department realised the gravity of the situation, it dispatched 13 fire tenders, two bowsers and a snorkel by declaring it a Category III fire.
Mayor visit City Mayor Waseem Akhtar who reached the first site to monitor the operation expressed concern over the existing capacity of the fire department.
Expressing his apprehension over the lack of resources, the mayor said that had a fire broken out at another place at the same time the firemen would have been incapable of handling the situation.
Akhtar claimed that he had written a letter to the Sindh chief minister requesting him to have the capacity of the city‘s fire brigade upgraded. (The News d19, 11/04/2017)
Mauripur warehouse fire doused after 14 hours
A tyre warehouse in Mauripur was substantially damaged in a massive fire that broke out in the early hours of Tuesday, whereas two furniture shops were burnt in a separate incident in Malir.
No casualties were reported in either of the cases.
Officials of the Saddar Fire Station said the blaze in Mauripur broke out at around 1:03am in a warehouse – Plot No XK-428, Lyari Quarters, Mauripur Road – and two fire tenders were initially dispatched.
However, the fire quickly intensified to a ‗third-degree blaze‘ leading to an emergency being imposed and fire tenders being called in from around the city.
Despite the increased resources, it took 14 hours to completely douse the blaze. As the warehouse was located adjacent to the PAF Base Masroor, the entire operation was aerially monitored using the air force‘s choppers.
Chief Fire Officer (CFO) Tehseen Ahmed admitted that the damage could have been reduced as the fire mainly spread due to an initial shortage of water. Besides Pakistan Navy‘s two fire tenders, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) sent in eight fire tenders, and two were sent in by the Karachi Port Trust (KPT). Two water bowsers were also a part of the operation.
Speaking to The News, Keamari SP Arif Aziz said the workers present at the warehouse at night claimed that the fire started after a spark that emanated from an unknown source landed inside one of the sheds.
However, the SP added that according to the police‘s information there were no fireworks taking place nearby when the fire broke out, hence the cause of the fire could only be ascertained after further investigation.
The day‘s other fire incident was reported at a furniture market in Memon Goth, Malir. That blaze, officials said, broke out at around 2:15 am and destroyed two shops. An official of the fire department said it took three fire tenders an hour to douse the blaze. (The News 13, 26/04/2017)
Fire breaks out in 19-storey building on II Chundrigar Road
A fire broke out in a 19-storey high-rise commercial building on II Chundrigar Road Friday night.
The flames were doused by firefighters after hectic efforts of at least 12 hours.
The flames, which erupted at the 16th floor of Saima Towers at 5am, quickly engulfed the 17th, 18th and 19th floors of the building as well. Initially, four fire tenders with two water bowsers and a snorkel were rushed to the site, followed by more water bowsers and snorkels from across the city. The area police also reached the site.
Advertisement ―The firefighters tried their level best [to put out the flames],‖ said the fire brigade spokesperson, adding that the offices of the various companies in the building were also evacuated.
No loss of life was reported, said the spokesperson. However, nearly half a dozen people were trapped on the rooftop of the building, who were later safely rescued by the firefighters.
The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. However, the firefighters suspected the fire broke out due to a short circuit.
Warehouse fire in Karachi: Tyres worth millions burnt to ashes in blaze Firefighters said they faced problems in extinguishing the flames due to a lack of availability of equipment. ―There was lot of difficulty in controlling the fire as the fire was on the 16th floor while the snorkel could only reach up to the 13th floor. We had to make custom arrangements to reach the spot,‖ a firefighter explained.
Meanwhile, Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar visited the site and criticised the Sindh government for ‗doing nothing for institutions during the last eight years‘. According to him, several buildings have been built in the metropolis but fire equipment has not been made available to them. Akhtar highlighted there was no fire exit in the affected building. The provincial authorities should be ashamed of themselves on such a dismal state of affairs, he said. (By Faraz Khan The Express Tribune 14, 30/04/2017)
High-rise yet to be cleared for use three days after fire
It remains unclear whether all offices in Saima Trade Tower-II on II Chundrigar Road would open for work as the fire that initially broke out on the building‘s 16th floor on Saturday rekindled early on Monday morning.
As per the fire department, the blaze restarted on the 16th floor at around 1:15am on Monday and two fire tenders were dispatched to put it out. Prior to that, the fire had rekindled on the night between Saturday and Sunday when firefighters were carrying out the cooling process.
The fire, which was the latest in a series of incidents reported this year, had once again exposed the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) fire department‘s inefficiencies.
On a visit yesterday, this scribe was told that water used to extinguish the blaze was still receding from the affected floors of the 19-floor building. Security guards were seen on the ground floor of the building, and the grille door was locked to keep visitors out.
Rubble was seen scattered around the entrance of the building, and work was going on to remove the debris and reopen the road for vehicular traffic. The security guards deployed on the main gate said the cleanliness work on the affected floors was going on, and the burnt material was being removed.
To a query, the guards maintained that the offices situated till the 15th floor of the building would reopen today (Tuesday), and cleanliness work would continue on the four affected floors.
While KMC Chief Fire Officer (CFO) Tehseen Ahmed said he was too busy to explain why the fire was rekindling at intervals, an operator at the fire brigade‘s control room, Babar Ali, said the fire was still burning under the rubble.
―The fire was breaking out repeatedly when occupants of the affected floors tried to remove the debris,‖ Ali said.
―The fire erupted again on 16th floor of the apartments at 1:15 am on Monday when the rescue team was busy in cleanliness work and removing burnt furniture,‖ Ali added.
He said the same situation was faced on Saturday night during the cooling process.
―The KMC told the building management to remove burnt material from the affected floors, but the management didn‘t pay attention despite repeated reminders,‖ Ali blamed.
KMC Municipal Services Director Masood Alam, on the other hand, claimed that he had cleared the building at 5am on Sunday. ―I was present on the spot and monitoring the firefighting operation,‖ Alam said, adding that he had declared the building out of danger on completion of the cooling process.
Alam claimed that he was not informed fire rekindling again on Monday night.
He said the 17th and 19th floors of the buildings had been burnt completely and the electrical system of both the floors had reduced to ashes.
The KMC municipal services director said it would be premature to hold anyone responsible as the fire officials had not issued any report in this regard. (The News 13, 02/05/2017)
Factory management blames fire brigade for inferno in SITE
No loss of life was reported during a fire that broke out on Sunday at a plastic factory in SITE area.
The fire erupted at around 9:30am on the ground floor of the factory located in the Labour Square area of SITE. The factory, spread over 1,600 square yards, produced plastic chairs.
Fire brigade officials termed the blaze a third-degree fire. Fire tenders from all over the city were called to extinguish the flames.
Apart from the fire tenders from the local government, fire-fighters from the Karachi Port Trust and Pakistan Navy also participated in extinguishing the fire.
Advertisement Ad Explosions were heard from inside the factory, as boilers, generators and chemical drums were set off.
Rescue teams also faced difficulties in battling the fire due to the intensity of the wind. Fortunately, no loss of life was reported in the fire, as no labourers were present inside the factory when the flames erupted as it was a holiday.
Police and Rangers personnel cordoned off the site to prevent passersby from approaching the factory. Police officials said they reached the site to disperse the gathering crowd that would obstruct fire-fighting work. Police said so far they have not ascertained the cause of the fire and could not make any assumptions until the fire brigade department issues its final report.
Fire-fighters feared the inferno could spread to a nearby K-Electric grid station and petrol pump. The pump was immediately evacuated and the fire-fighters were able to prevent the buildings from catching fire.
Fire breaks out in 19-storey building on II Chundrigar Road The fire brigade spokesperson said that initially, three fire tenders were sent to the site but were not enough to douse the inferno, which is why more vehicles were dispatched, including water tankers.
The factory administration blamed the fire brigade department for using delay tactics and not operating properly. ―They reached the spot late with not enough vehicles or equipment,‖ claimed the factory management. ―They did not even have water or foam to douse the fire. They are responsible for our loss of millions of rupees,‖ accused the management.
On the other hand, fire brigade officials said that they did their level best to douse the fire. ―We are not magicians,‖ said a fire brigade official, Zafar Khan. ―We tried our level best. We could not douse the fire in few minutes because there were lots of chemicals and plastic present inside the factory. Strong winds also caused difficulties for us in extinguishing the fire,‖ he explained.
Khan said all the available vehicles were dispatched immediately to the site to douse the fire, adding that they also ran out of foam soon into the fire-fighting operation.
Going down in flames: Only 14 of KMC’s 21 fire stations are functional Following the request of the local government‘s fire officials, fire tenders from the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB), Pakistan Navy and Karachi Port Trust also reached the site to aid the fire- fighting efforts.
Due to the shortage of water during the operation, KWSB Managing Director Hashim Raza Zaidi directed the authorities concerned to open the water hydrants to supply water to the fire-fighters.
Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar also visited the site of the inferno to oversee fire-fighting operations and direct the authorities to make all efforts to battle the blaze. While speaking to the media, Akhtar criticised the Sindh government for not making the fire brigade department self-sufficient. ―The fire department does not have the necessary equipment to deal with such incidents,‖ he lamented.
―All the vehicles have been utilised here and in case of an incident elsewhere in the city [the department] would have no fire tenders to utilise,‖ he said.
The wall on one side of the factory collapsed, while the remaining sections of the building were damaged. (By Faraz Khan The Express Tribune 13, 22/05/2017)
Plastic factory fire put out after six hours of efforts
A huge fire that broke out in a plastic factory in the SITE industrial area on Sunday morning was brought under control after hectic efforts lasting several hours. No one was hurt in the fire.
Presence of chemicals and boiler and cylinders‘ explosions inside the factory compounded the problems of firefighters trying to put out the blaze and prompted them to seek the help of the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) and the Pakistan Navy. The factory building was badly damaged in the fire.
SITE SP Asif Ahmed Bughio ruled out the possibility of any act of sabotage behind the incident. Speaking to Dawn, he said the factory made plastic chairs.
The SITE fire brigade official told Dawn that they had received information about the fire at about 9.14am on Sunday.
Initially, two fire engines were sent to extinguish the blaze, but the fire rapidly spread apparently owing to presence of plastic and chemicals in the factory.
Realising the gravity of the situation, the firefighters declared it a third-degree fire and called in more fire tenders from across the city to meet any eventuality.
Five more fire engines arrived. In the meantime, a boiler in the factory exploded. It prompted the KMC fire department to seek the help of the KPT and the Navy, who sent two fire engines.
Two bowsers and two snorkels were also brought in to fight the fire.
The firefighters managed to control the blaze after six hours of hectic efforts in which foam was also used. However, cooling work continued till late evening, said a SITE fire official.
The cause of the fire and estimation of losses could not be established immediately.
Talking to journalists on the occasion, fire brigade chief Tahseen Siddiqi said the fire spread rapidly because of explosions of a boiler and cylinders inside the factory. He said the blaze had badly damaged the factory building.
Meanwhile, Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar visited the spot and supervised the firefighting work. Talking to reporters, he said the KMC‘s fire department was facing shortage of vehicles.
The mayor regretted that they had requested the provincial government to provide vehicles, but to no avail. (Dawn 15, 22/05/2017)
Compensation mechanism draws ire of Baldia factory fire victims’ heirs
Representatives of Ali Enterprises Factory Fire Affectees Association (AEFFAA) rejected the International Labor Organisation‘s (ILO) decision of reimbursement of compensation through Sindh Employees Social Security Institution (Sessi). They demanded compensation in lump sum in cheques through the Sindh High Court (SHC).
AEFFAA Chairperson Saeeda Khatoon put forward these demands while addressing a press conference at Karachi Press Club along with the association‘s president, Jabir Khan and vice-president, Muhammad Moosa. They also staged a protest outside the club.
No rest for Sindh’s labourers Advertisement Khatoon said that the German company, Kik, which was the major buyer of the products made at the ill- fated factory paid, though after a long struggle, USD5.15 million in September last year under an agreement. The money is with the ILO. She added that after the agreement in which Kik, ILO, IndustriALL Global Union, Clean Clothes Campaign and others were involved, the victims were told that the mechanism to distribute the money will be devised after having meaningful consultations with them. Four months later, a delegation of ILO and other parties visited Pakistan and held formal and informal sessions and meetings with the victims. In those meetings, the victims had firmly told the fact-finding mission that they wanted the money to be paid in lump sum in cheques through the SHC. This, said Khatoon, is not only the transparent process but the victims are also familiar with it.
―We were requested by the ILO to take part in the meetings while we were informed that the suggestions, recommendations and reservations would be taken care of,‖ she said. ―The victims, hoping that they will be listened to, attended the meetings and presented their proposals but their voice was never heard.‖
Home-based workers step out of homes to celebrate working women The report prepared by the fact-finding mission did not contain the suggestions and reservations of the victims, she said, adding that victims do not agree with the recommendations made by the mission in the report.
She added that the payment was meant to compensate the families for the income that they have been deprived of since they lost their breadwinners in the fire. Unfortunately, the victims were kept in the dark throughout the meetings. They were never told that the distribution of money would take place in instalments through Sessi. They came to know about this in the later stages, raised voice against it and rejected it. Khatoon mentioned that in May this year, an ILO delegation visited the country again and told them that compensation will be paid in monthly instalments through Sessi.
‘Workforce will have no option but to revolt unless rights are given’ The victims insisted that they should be informed about the amount of the monthly instalments, said Khatoon. After showing some hesitation, she added, the ILO representatives finally told them that the parents of a deceased victim will be given Rs2,800 while the spouse will be given Rs9,000. The amount for the injured will be decided on the basis of their medical examination report.
According to Khatoon, the irony is that most of the workers killed in the fire were unmarried and their parents and siblings depended on them. How would they make both ends meet with Rs2,800 per month, she asked, adding that ILO has still not answered the question.
Land of Inventors: Germany’s travelling exhibition comes to Karachi Meanwhile, the victims held another meeting on May 7 to discuss the issue. They rejected the ILO suggestions to pay them the money in instalments through Sessi. They also wrote a letter to the ILO country director, appraising the chair about the victims‘ reservations. A reply is still awaited, said Khatoon.
Talking about Sessi, Khatoon said the victims have strong reservations. She said the victims have been suffering from problems rampant at Sessi for the past four years. The institution is meant to help the workers but in reality, it never does so. The officers there would not listen to the victims‘ problems and shut their doors on them, she said. Having been the victims of Sessi, we cannot trust this institution to be a caretaker of our money, she added.
Contempt of court: SHC issues notices to Sindh IG, police authorities Later, the heirs of the victims protested, shouting slogans against Sessi and ILO and demanding that their compensation be reimbursed directly in lump sum cheques. (By SHEHARYAR ALI The Express Tribune 15, 27/05/2017)
Eight furniture shops destroyed in fire
A fire broke out in a Lines Area furniture market, destroying eight shops on Thursday morning, officials said.
The blaze erupted in the market at around 9.15am. Initially, two fire tenders were sent to put it out. However, realising the gravity of the situation, three more fire tenders were dispatched that helped extinguish the fire at around 12.40pm, said a Fire Brigade official.
The official confirmed that eight furniture shops had been destroyed. A short circuit was stated to be the probable cause of the fire. (Dawn 17, 09/06/2017)
SHC issues notice on bail plea in Baldia factory fire case
The Sindh High Court (SHC) issued on Monday a notice to the special public prosecutor on a bail application filed by a suspect nominated in the 2012 Baldia factory fire case in which 259 workers were killed.
A two-judge bench, headed by Justice Sadiq Hussain Bhatti, directed the prosecutor to file comments on the bail plea of Zubair alias Lala alias Chariya by the next date of the hearing, to be later notified by the office.
Zubair had approached the court against the dismissal of his bail application by the concerned anti- terrorism court where the trial against Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leaders Hammad Siddiqui, Abdul Rauf Siddiqui, Abdul Rehman, alias Bhola and others is pending in the factory fire case.
Advertisement Ad Compensation mechanism draws ire of Baldia factory fire victims’ heirs A joint investigation team had found that a man, Zubair, supporter of the MQM who ran the finishing department at the ill-fated Ali Enterprises, came on the day of incident to the factory accompanied by Waseem Dehelvi and four others.
An accountant at the factory, Muhammad Arshad, testified that he saw Zubair handing out black shopping bags to the men accompanying him. Zubair was the first to toss a bag to the side of the warehouse and the rest followed course and threw their bags in different directions. The fire erupted within a short period of time, Arshad said.
Zubair‘s lawyer, Advocate Muhammad Tamaz Khan, argued that the trial court had rejected his client‘s bail plea without considering the facts on record. He pleaded to the court to set aside the trial court‘s bail rejection order and grant bail to Zubair.
Sindh High Court extends pre-arrest bail of Sharjeel Memon In the hearing on May 29, the court had issued a notice to the special public prosecutor, Sajid Mehboob Sheikh, to file comments but he was absent during the hearing on Monday. The bench again issued a notice to him to file comments by the next date of the hearing. (The Express Tribune 15, 13/06/2017)
Compensation becomes a bone of contention between heirs of Baldia factory fire victims, ILO
The issue of financial compensation for the victims of the Baldia factory fire is at an impasse after the victims‘ families and International Labour Organisation (ILO) are in a disagreement over the mechanism to disburse the over $5 million among the heirs.
German garment company KiK, which has been accused of overlooking workers‘ safety arrangements at the ill-fated Ali Enterprises, dubbed the Baldia factory, had paid $5.15 million as long-term compensation to the victims‘ heirs in late December, 2016 under an agreement signed in Geneva, Switzerland.
The agreement involved the IndustriALL Global Union and Clean Clothes Campaign as representatives of the victims and ILO as the mediator. The German government reportedly played a crucial back door role in bringing KiK to the negotiation table.
Advertisement Ad Compensation mechanism draws ire of Baldia factory fire victims’ heirs The money has now been deposited with the ILO, confirms the organisation‘s Pakistan director Ingrid Christensen.
The proposal The ILO has proposed a mechanism through which the victims‘ families will be paid compensation monthly through the Sindh Employees Social Security Institution (Sessi). The amount will vary depending on the relation of the beneficiary to the deceased.
If the deceased was unmarried, his or her parents will be given around Rs3,800. In case the deceased was married, his or her spouse will be given around Rs12,000. For children, there will be some additional money. This pension is not transferable. If the beneficiary spouse gets married again he or she will no longer be entitled to the sum. Children will only be paid until they reach 18 years of age.
Saeeda Khatoon details life of son who died in Baldia factory fire The victims, who are represented by the Ali Enterprises Factory Fire Affectees Association (AEFFAA), oppose this mechanism for they believe they are victims of fraud and that the ILO is capitalising on their money.
They want the disbursement in a lump sum and through the Sindh High Court (SHC) as has happened in the past. For them, the SHC is a more credible institution than Sessi, which has a history of alleged mismanagement and malpractice.
At odds Ever since the victims‘ heirs got wind of the ILO‘s plan for the pension payment mechanism, they held a series of meetings and demonstrations. Meanwhile, the ILO has also made considerable efforts to persuade people to accept its proposal.
Factory management blames fire brigade for inferno in SITE ILO‘s Christensen told The Express Tribune that the proposed arrangement includes periodic disbursement via SESSI to the beneficiaries following instructions from a multi-stakeholder oversight committee with technical assistance and guidance from the ILO. She added that other envisaged elements of the arrangement include counselling on rights and entitlements, a funds management mechanism and a possible high court commission of procedure.
―Sessi is the provincial body mandated to disburse employment injury benefits and is already doing so to most of the victims or their dependants. The disbursement will be guided by the principles in the ILO Convention on Employment Injury Benefits, 1964,‖ she said.
AEFFAA Vice-Chairperson Saeeda Khatoon argued that the ILO kept the victims in the dark and revealed its plan to make payments in instalments in stages later. ―When we heard about the agreement in September last year, it gave us hope that some of our sufferings could be diminished by the money that we are getting. But it turned out to be just a dream.‖
Baldia factory fire case: Police ordered to decide former MQM minister’s fate in two weeks After making the victims wait and fight for more than four years, she said, now the ILO is offering them Rs3,800 a month. ―Would that even the pay the electricity bill of a household?‖ she questioned. ―There are people who were hoping to settle their debts, marry off their daughters, buy a home or start a business. But every dream has been shattered,‖ she lamented.
Something that bothers Khatoon is that, during a meeting with the ILO representatives, she was told that if the victims did not accept the instalment proposal then the money would no longer be available. ―It was a threat. A direct one. They thought we are underprivileged and uneducated and won‘t withstand the pressure. They were all wrong. We will fight.‖
Opinions ―KiK shares the opinion of the ILO and Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research that the money should be distributed in instalments rather than [in a] lump sum. The very reason for including the ILO in this process was to help establish a transparent calculation scheme and contribute to strengthening a Pakistani social security system. This is only possible through instalments,‖ said KiK‘s senior communication consultant, Dorothea Jestadt.
Warehouse fire in Karachi: Tyres worth millions burnt to ashes in blaze According to her, the money is intended to help support the heirs‘ daily lives, current and future medical costs now and fund their children‘s education. ―Paying it in instalments makes it more likely that the money is actually available when it is needed in years to come – in contrast to a lump sum payment. We have seen in Bangladesh that distributing the money at once in large sums does not always have positive effects,‖ explained Jestadt.
National Trade Union Federation Deputy General Secretary Nasir Mansoor, on the other hand, opposes the instalment mechanism.
―Contrary to the agreement that the compensation will cover the loss of earning, it actually does nothing. It seems a joke. What can a family do with Rs3,800? Most of the victims were unmarried. Can their parents survive on this little sum?‖ he questioned. (By Zubair Ashraf The Express Tribune 15, 21/06/2017)