Court seeks Amir Khan’s comments on appeal against bail

The Rangers have challenged the release of the Rabita Committee member

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) ordered on Tuesday the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader, Amir Khan, to file comments on an application filed by the Rangers authorities challenging the release of his bail.

Justice Naimatullah Phulpoto, who heads the bench, fixed the next hearing for December 21.

In September, the Rangers authorities had challenged the release of the  MQM’s Rabita Committee member, Khan, two months after an anti-terrorism court (ATC) granted him bail in a case relating to instigating terrorism and harbouring criminals.



Khan was taken into custody during a pre-dawn raid at the MQM headquarters, Nine Zero, on March 11 by the Rangers. After spending three months in 'preventive detention' of the Rangers, he was granted bail by the ATC-II on June 29. The court, however, restrained him from leaving the country without seeking prior permission from it.

Two months on, the paramilitary force has challenged the ATC's release order in the Sindh High Court, claiming that the trial court's order was 'one-sided', thus liable to be set aside. On Tuesday, Advocate Shaukat Hayat filed the power of attorney on behalf of Khan and requested for time to file comments on behalf of his client.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 2^nd,  2015.