Three MQM leaders remanded for three days in rioting, treason cases

Development comes a day after Rangers sealed party headquarters, Nine Zero, unit and sector offices in Sindh

KARACHI: A day after Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) workers vandalised offices of private TV channels in Karachi, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) handed over on Tuesday three senior party leaders to police on a three-day remand.

On Monday, two cases related to treason and rioting were registered in Artillery Maidan police station against the party over Altaf Hussain’s anti-Pakistan speech, and subsequent violence which left at least one person dead and at least five injured.

MQM’s deputy convener Shahid Pasha, MNA Kunwar Naveed Jamil and senior leader Qamar Mansoor were sent on a three-day remand by an administrative judge of the ATC, sources told The Express Tribune.



The rioting drew widespread condemnation from all political parties, prompting action by the paramilitary Rangers.

At least nine MQM leaders, including Dr Farooq Sattar, were detained while the party’s headquarters, Nine Zero, were also searched and subsequently sealed. Sattar was later released.

The violence erupted soon after Altaf gave a telephone address to his supporters in which he castigated media for not giving due coverage to his workers, and allegedly raised anti-Pakistan slogans.

Television footage showed dozens of men and women barging into ARY’s office, smashing doors, windows and equipment with rods and batons and setting fire to vehicles.