- ATC rejects interim bails of MQM’s Karachi mayor nominee Wasim Akhtar, MQM’s Rauf Siddiqui, former MQM and now PSP leader Anis Qaimkhani, and PPP leader Qadir Patel in case relating to medical treatment of terrorists and hardened criminals at Dr Asim Hussain’s hospital
- Wasim Akhtar claims ‘political victimisation’, says will challenge decision in SHC
- Qadir Patel surrenders to police after earlier fleeing ATC premises
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leaders Wasim Akhtar, Rauf Siddiqui and Pak Sarzameen Party President Anis Qaimkhani were taken into custody in a terror facilitation case after an anti-terrorism court (ATC) rejected their interim bail on Tuesday.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Qadir Patel, who earlier escaped to flee the court premises, also surrendered in the evening.
Saqib Ismail, a senior police officer in Karachi, said that Akhtar and Siddiqui were arrested on suspicion of sheltering and providing medical treatment to alleged militants and criminals. Kaimkhani from the PSP was also arrested on the same charges, he said, adding that all the three accused had been shifted to Central Jail.
Declaring his arrest ‘unconstitutional and unlawful’ Akhtar, who is also Karachi’s mayor nominee, said he was being politically victimised.
He vowed to file a formal appeal in the Sindh High Court.
“Even our lawyers were not allowed to step outside the ATC and file a formal appeal in the high court,” he said while being taken by the police in an armoured personnel carrier.
MQM ALLEGES JIT SET UP TO WEAKEN PARTY:
The MQM, meanwhile, alleged that its leaders were arrested on the basis of findings of a biased JIT.
Addressing a hurriedly-called press conference at party headquarters Nine Zero, MQM leader Kanwar Naveed alleged that Waseem Akhtar and Rauf Siddiqui had been arrested on the basis of findings of a biased JIT.
He said that arrest of Akhtar and Siddiqui was a continuation of Karachi operation. “JITs are being set up to weaken the MQM and force its workers to change their loyalties,” he added.
Naveed, to a question, said that the cancellation of bails of Waseem Akhtar and Rauf Siddiqui by the judge appeared to be the result of some undue external pressure.
“Thousands of MQM workers have been receiving threats and are being pressurized to quit the party. As many as 130 are still missing,” concluded the MQM leader.
PATEL SAYS HADN’T RUN AWAY:
Earlier, talking to reporters outside the police station, PPP leader Patel claimed he reached the ATC a bit late and its door had been closed.
Therefore, Patel said, he waited outside and after learning through his counsel that his interim bail was rejected, he proceeded outside to file a petition in the high court.
“From there I went to a friend’s house for legal consultation and saw the media footage, describing me as a runaway.”
Vowing to face the trial, Patel said he did not come back to Pakistan from London to escape the court.
“I came back to the country from London to attend the hearing of the case then why would I escape from the court,” he asked.
Earlier Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah directed the Sindh Home Minister Sohail Anwar Siyal for Patel’s arrest.
“As far as Patel’s arrest is concerned, it was a matter in ATC. It’s the duty of home minister to get the absconder arrested,” he said.
A close aide of former president Asif Ali Zardari, Dr Asim Hussain, was arrested by the paramilitary Rangers on charges of corruption and facilitating terrorists in August 2015.
He is accused of allegedly treating and harbouring suspected terrorists, militants and gangsters at the North Nazimabad and Clifton branches of his hospital at the behest of some MQM and PPP leaders.
According to the prosecution, four different parties had allegedly asked Dr Asim to provide medical treatment to “political militants”, Lyari gangsters as well as activists of banned militant outfits after they sustained wounds in shootouts with police and Rangers.
A case was also registered at the North Nazimabad police station earlier, under charges of harbouring offenders, criminal breach of trust and Section 7 of Anti-Terrorism Act.