On the run: Non-bailable warrants issued for five MQM workers

Law enforcers maintained that Amir Khan provided shelter to suspects who are allegedly involved in targeted killings

KARACHI:

An anti-terrorism court issued on Tuesday non-bailable arrest warrants for five workers of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in a case against party leader Amir Khan.

The warrants were issued for MQM Korangi sector's former in-charge Raees alias Mama, Minhaj Qazi, Imran Ijaz Niazi and Naeem alias Mullah. On Tuesday, the investigating officer submitted a report before the ATC-IV judge, who is now hearing the case. The report read that the suspects are on the run since the raid and the investigators need more time to trace their whereabouts.

Khan has been accused of 'harbouring criminals' and 'instigating terrorism' by the Rangers after he was taken into custody in the pre-dawn March 11 raid at the MQM headquarters, Nine Zero. As many as 100 workers of the party, including some convicted and wanted criminals, were arrested during the raid which lasted a couple of hours.

Since the MQM leader was the security chief of Nine Zero, the law enforcers have maintained that he provided shelter to the suspects who are allegedly involved in targeted killings in the port city.

As the ATC judge accepted the report, he issues the warrants once again and asked the investigator to nab the absconding suspects and present them at the next hearing.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 27^th, 2016.