Rangers to grill ‘militant commander’ associated with MQM

Suspect was reportedly arrested in UAE last week and then brought back to country

KARACHI: The Rangers informed the administrative judge of the anti-terrorism courts on Tuesday about the 90-day preventive detention of an alleged militant commander associated with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).

Ahmed Saeed alias Bharam was reportedly taken into custody in United Arab Emirates (UAE) last week and was then brought back to the country. However, the paramilitary force officials told the judge that the suspect was arrested in a raid conducted within the limits of Eidgah police station.

The Rangers submitted a detention order and jail warrants for Saeed in the court, contending that they had credible information against the suspect about his alleged involvement in target killings, extortion, kidnapping and other acts of terrorism.



The detention order issued by a sector commander of the paramilitary force read that it was in public interest that the suspect be grilled and interrogated about his involvement in the crimes.

The order cited section 11EEEE of the Anti-Terrorism Act, which allows the armed and civil armed forces of the country to detain any person suspected of involvement in terrorism for a period as long as 90 days.

After accepting the documents, the judge issued directions to the home department for the constitution of an investigation team within 15 days to question the suspect about his involvement in the said crimes.

Saeed is said to be a commander of a militant wing of the party. He was allegedly operating his target killing team from Dubai and South Africa. He is said to have plotted several murders and riots in the city and is allegedly involved in the murder of Central Jail deputy superintendent Amanullah Khan Niazi.

He, along with his accomplice, was sentenced to death for the murder of four American nationals and their native driver near PIDC signal in November 1997. Their sentences were, however, set aside by the Sindh High Court in 2003 as they were exonerated from the case during an appeal.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 23^rd,  2016.