ATC allows MQM’s Amir Khan to visit Dubai for two weeks

Court directs party leader to submit Rs2 million as surety money and return to country by January 11

KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Karachi granted permission on Wednesday to Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) senior leader Amir Khan to travel to Dubai for a period of two weeks.

In its verdict on MQM leader’s plea seeking permission to go abroad on a two-week visit, the ATC judge directed Khan to submit Rs2 million as surety money and return to the country by January 11, 2016.



The ATC had reserved its order on Saturday on Khan’s request seeking two-week travel permission to Dubai. The MQM leader is accused of harbouring criminals and instigating terrorism. He was implicated in the case after being arrested along with some convicted and absconding suspects during the pre-dawn March 11 raid at the party headquarters, Nine Zero.

The prosecution alleges that Khan, being the security chief, provided shelter to as many as 26 hardened criminals at Nine Zero. He was, however, released on bail in June against a surety of Rs1 million.

Khan, through his counsel Shaukat Hayat, had moved an application before the ATC-IV judge, Kausar Sultana, seeking permission to go to Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), for two weeks.



When the application was taken up by the court on Saturday, Khan’s attorney argued that the family of the applicant was residing in Dubai and his two sons were studying there.

On the other hand, the special public prosecutor, Rana Khalid, who represents the complainant, Rangers, in the case, had opposed the application and submitted that the accused was given bail on the condition that he will not leave the country until the disposal of the case. He apprehended that the suspect will not come back if allowed to leave.