KARACHI: Owning up to the responsibility for the fire that engulfed over 250 lives in a Baldia Town factory, Minister for Commerce and Industry Rauf Siddiqui tendered his resignation on Friday, Express News reported.



Siddiqui, who belongs to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, said that the decision was taken on the directives of his party.



Forwarding his resignation to Governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ebad, Siddiqui said that he wants a fair and transparent investigation to be carried out and that can only be possible when he is not holding the ministry.



Siddiqui had earlier said that the land was allotted by his ministry but after that it becomes the responsibility of SITE, the labour department and civil defence authorities to inspect code violations.



He had felt the owners were first responsible and then government agencies.