KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday granted bail to Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Gulfaraz Khan Khattak and 10 workers in a case pertaining to riots and attack on media houses on August 22, 2016.
Khattak and party workers–Hasan Raza, Adnan, Asif Siddiqui, Subhan Intikhab, Haider, Sher Ali, Ghulam Ali and others–were booked by the Artillery Maidan Police for allegedly facilitating and attacking private news channels respectively. The other party leaders–MNA Kanwar Naveed Jameel, Qamar Mansoor, and three women have already been out on bail.
MQM-London founder Altaf Hussain and MQM-Pakistan convener Dr Farooq Sattar were also nominated in the case but yet to be arrested.
The accused persons, through their counsel, filed bail pleas and submitted that the charges levelled against them were baseless.
On the other hand, the prosecution opposed their pleas and argued that there was sufficient evidence against the suspects; therefore, their pleas should be dismissed.
After hearing the arguments from both sides, the SHC bench, headed by Chief Justice Ahmed Ali M Shaikh, accepted the bail applications, while directing the accused persons to submit Rs 200,000 each as surety.
According to the prosecution, Altaf had delivered the speech against the state that was allegedly facilitated and listened by the leaders and workers in August last year outside the Karachi Press Club. The MQM- London founder had criticised the national security agencies and on his provocation, the workers raised anti-Pakistan slogans.
It added that the suspects had also attacked private news channels and rioted near Fawara Chowk after their chief addressed them and incited to violence. At least one person died and others injured in the riots within the jurisdiction of Artillery Maidan Police Station.
