Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) lawmaker Kamran Farooqui, who was arrested on Friday in two cases pertaining to illegal weapons and explosives, has confessed to involvement in high-profile cases including killings of dozens of people.
Police presented MQM MPA before the anti-terrorism court (ATC) where investigation officer sought 14-day remand of the accused. However, ATC granted two-day physical remand and directed investigation officer to complete the probe within given timeframe.
Lawyers have told that the accused is involved in 12 May incident, Tahir Plaza fire, and firing on Mohabbat-e-Sindh rally.
The suspect has admitted before the court that he was involved in Tahir Plaza inferno in 2008. The plaza is located in front of the city courts. Four people including two women lost their lives in the incident.
He also admitted that four persons were gunned down in Usmanabad to stop Mohabbat-e-Sindh rally. Thirteen persons were shot dead in firing on the rally near Light House.
Farooqui further confessed to involvement in shooting incident in 2007 on the order of MQM leadership to stop former chief justice. He said several people were killed and injured in the incident.
He said PPP member Tariq Lashkari was murdered in Garden area in 2011 and five other persons including Usman, Younas, Asif, Arsalan and Shahbaz were shot dead in 2010 and 2012.
Another task regarding the murder of the former president of Karachi Bar Naeem Qureshi was given in 2007 over his involvement in anti-MQM rallies, he told the court.
The MPA was arrested after two cases against him were registered under Section 23(1) A. of the Sindh Arms Act and Sections 4 and 5 of the Explosives Substances Act, read with the Anti-Terrorism Act.
He was elected as an MPA from the PS-111 constituency in old city area during the last general elections.