Waseem Akhtar handed over to SSP Rao Anwar for investigation

The MQM leader was arrested on Tuesday after an ATC rejected his interim bail in a terror facilitation case

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader and Karachi’s mayor-designate Waseem Akhtar has been handed over to SSP Rao Anwar of Malir police for investigation, an anti-terrorism court official confirmed with The Express Tribune on Wednesday.

Akhtar, along with three other political figures, was arrested on Tuesday after an anti-terrorism court rejected their interim bails in a terror facilitation case involving former petroleum minister Dr Asim Hussain.

Abdul Qadir Patel, Anis Qaimkhani & Rauf Siddiqui. PHOTO: FILE

According to the official, Malir police approached the ATC judge, seeking a non-objection certificate to 'grill' Akhtar, who was in custody at the Karachi Central Jail, in two cases he was nominated as a co-accused.

Subsequently, the judge allowed the police for interrogation.



About 30 cases are lodged across the Malir district against MQM chief Altaf Hussain, and party leaders have also been nominated. The cases are related to Altaf's speeches, in which he allegedly instigated movement's workers to wage a war against the state.

“We have arrested him. He is in our custody,” SSP Anwar told The Express Tribune. Akhtar will be presented in court on Thursday, he added.

Refuting allegations that the MQM leader will be victimised, the SSP said Akhtar was in custody of the investigation wing.

“There is no such thing as personal vendetta. He is nominated in FIRs lodged by the people. We have not made a case ourselves against him,” he said.