At the end of August, The Dortmund High Court (Rhineland) declared itself competent both to rule on a complaint filed by four Pakistani nationals against the German discount textiles chain KiK and to take into account Pakistani law. The four complainants are the parents of workers who met their deaths in a fire at a factory in Karachi Pakistan in 2012. The Dortmund High Court also decided to accord the complainants legal aid. KiK has stated it is calmly awaiting the outcome of the procedure and that it is satisfied that its full responsibility in the catastrophe will be clarified.
KiK responsible or not? What exactly was KiK’s responsibility in the fire that broke out at the Ali Enterprises textile factory in Karachi on 11 September 2012, where 260 people perished? This is the key question, which must be answered by the Dortmund case, although the dates for the hearing have not yet been set. A brief résumé will help in understanding the significance of the case. At the time when the fire broke out KiK was the Karachi factory’s main client (purchasing 70% of production).
…Do you have information to share with us?