MQM challenges detention of activists

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court asked the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) to remove objections that it levelled on plea against the detention of 110 activists by the Rangers following a raid on party headquarters Nine-Zero.

A division bench, headed by Justice Abdul Rasool Memon, fixed March 16 for the hearing on the petition filed by MQM leader Gulfaraz Khan. The petition named the provincial home secretary, Sindh IG, Rangers director-general and Central Police DIG as respondents.

The MQM Rabita Committee had on Friday had challenged the detention of party leader Amir Khan and other activists in the Rangers operation.

Gulfaraz, a member of the committee, had claimed in the petition that as many as 110 people, including Khan, party activists and area residents, were detained by the Sindh Rangers for 'unfounded reasons' during Wednesday's raid.

He alleged that while the police were informed about the arrests, they did not receive any notice about the detentions from the Rangers, nor had they taken any action to recover the detainees.

Gulfaraz further stated that a complaint had also been filed with the police on the same day as the raid over the ransacking of the MQM headquarters and offices in the Khursheed Begum Memorial Secretariat, seizing licensed weapons and Rs3.5 million from the welfare and aid fund.

He pleaded the court to direct the officials to produce the detainees in court and deal with them in accordance with the law. A direction was also sought for the law enforcers to disclose the reasons for the operation.

Taking up the plea on Friday, the bench inquired about the court office's objection, as a resolution or authorisation on behalf of the Rabita Committee was not filed with the petition.

In response to this, the petitioner's lawyer requested time to rectify the objection. Allowing this, the bench adjourned the hearing till March 16.