Preventative detention: Rangers detain four MQM workers on terrorism charges

Another worker was arrested for extortion by the paramilitary force


Our Correspondent November 28, 2015
PHOTO: ONLINE

KARACHI: The Rangers informed the administrative judge of the anti-terrorism courts on Saturday about the 90-day preventive detention of four workers of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on charges of terrorism.

Waseem Ahmed alias Shama, Muhammad Ibrahim, Muhammad Waseem and Asghar Yaqoob, were presented before Sindh High Court judge Justice Abdul Maalik Gaddi, who has an additional charge of administering the ATCs.

The paramilitary officers told the court that the suspects were involved in targeted killings, extortion, land grabbing and other terrorist activities. The suspects were arrested earlier this week during a raid at the MQM’s Korangi sector office.

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Ahmed was the sector incharge and ran a target killing team involved in the murder of policemen, the Rangers alleged in a statement. While Yaqoob, identified as the sector’s finance secretary, purchased arms and ammunition and provided them to the target killing teams, the paramilitary force asserted, adding that he was also involved in providing illegal water connections for hefty amounts in Landhi, Shah Faisal Colony and Korangi.

The paramilitary force maintained that Ibrahim and Waseem were involved land grabbing and collected extortion money from within their sector’s jurisdiction.

As many as 15 workers were taken into custody when the Rangers raided the MQM’s Korangi sector office. The MQM condemned the arrests and termed it tantamount to political victimisation. In reaction, the party also held a protest, which began from Liaquatabad, ending up near Mazar-e-Quaid.

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According to papers submitted to the court, the paramilitary force, upon receiving ‘credible’ information regarding the suspects’ involvement in terrorism, has detained them for 90 days for questioning.

Separately, the court was also informed about the grilling of another MQM worker, Aqeel, and an alleged Lyari gangster, Riaz.

The Rangers said that Aqeel was a committee member of the MQM’s labor division at the General Post Office (GPO). He was accused of extortion and funding terrorism with the money. According to the paramilitary force, he was caught red-handed after GPO employees complained about him.

About Riaz, the Rangers said that he was a target killer of a notorious Lyari gang. He belonged to the Uzair Baloch group and currently operated under ringleader Ustad Taju. During the initial interrogation, he confessed to killing at least five people, the paramilitary force claimed.

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