SHC rejects petition seeking release of ex-KESC MD’s murder suspect

Court directs Rangers to allow MQM headquarters’ security in-charge, Minhaj Qazi, to meet his family

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Monday rejected a petition seeking the release of security in-charge of MQM headquarters Nine Zero, who is currently being held by Rangers under a preventive detention for 90 days on charges of killing former KESC MD Shahid Hamid.

While disposing the petition filed by Minhaj Qazi alias Asad’s family for his release, the court directed Rangers to allow the suspect to meet his family.



Earlier, during proceedings, a lawyer of the paramilitary force told the court that Qazi is being questioned in criminal cases at the Mitha Aram sub jail, where he has been kept under preventive detention of 90 days.

Earlier this month, the Rangers had disclosed Qazi’s arrest, claiming the suspect confessed to have killed Karachi Electric Supply Corporation’s former managing director Shahid Hamid and numerous other people.

“The Rangers have arrested a notorious militant wing’s most wanted criminal – Minhaj Qazi alias Asad,” a Rangers statement had said on February 3. “He (Qazi), during initial interrogations has also revealed several target killings, including a murderer of managing director of KESC Shahid Hamid.”

Following his arrest, the Rangers took Qazi’s 90-day preventive custody after producing him before a Karachi-based anti-terrorism court (ATC). The Rangers’ law officer told the administrative judge, Justice Farooq Shah, about grilling Qazi under Section 11EEEE of the Anti-Terrorism Act contending that the paramilitary force have credible information against the suspect for his involvement in target killings, kidnappings, extortion and other crimes.



Qazi came into spotlight after the March 11 raid at Nine Zero, in which the paramilitary force claimed arresting several suspects involved in terrorism. He was said to have escaped from there. He has non-bailable warrants issued against him in a case pertaining to harbouring criminals and facilitating terrorism.

MQM in a press statement issued on January 29, had condemned the arrest of Qazi saying he was arrested during a Rangers raid at Garden locality.