Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on Sunday that the possibility of sabotage in the Karachi garment factory fire that killed at least 259 people cannot be ruled out.

Statements from the fire fighters and the injured that all exit gates had been closed when the fire erupted has caused suspicion about the motives behind the incident.

The parliament, opposition parties, rights and labor groups have called for a judicial and transparent inquiry into the worst fire incident in the country's history.

The interior minister, who visited the gutted factory on Sunday, said the investigators are looking at all options including the element of sabotage.

He said terrorists are bent upon destroying peace in Karachi, where political, sectarian attacks and bomb blasts have killed hundreds of people in recent months.

"The investigators will look at the intentions behind the incident and the possible involvement of the people," Malik told reporters at the site of the factory.

The minister said that the late arrival of fire fighters will also be investigated, adding that he has also taken note of the scarcity of water with the fire fighters.

One of the factory owners, who have got temporary pre-arrest bail, says that fire tenders arrived nearly one-and-half hour late. He said he himself had called the fire fighters.

The interior minister pledged severe punishment behind the factory fire, saying those who were found guilty would be given punishment. He also assured transparent inquiry process in progress.

Pakistani Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, who took an aerial view of the factory on Saturday, has sought an inquiry report.

Malik said it is a national tragedy and all the politicians should join the government in compensation to the fire affectees.