Second ‘arrest’ : Former ABAD chairman reportedly detained in raid

KARACHI:

Law enforcement agencies have reportedly arrested former chairman of the Association of Builders and Developers (Abad), Babar Mirza Chughtai.

Chughtai, said to have close links with Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), was reportedly taken into custody in a raid at his residence in East district of the city in the wee hours of Thursday.

Neither police nor Rangers officially owned his arrest, however, an office bearer at Abad, Asif Sumsum, confirmed to The Express Tribune that “he has been arrested but we don’t know on what charges.”

It is the second time that Chughtai has been detained. In April 2015, he was grilled by the Rangers for 90 days on allegations of land grabbing and running a crime syndicate.

However, he was released by the paramilitary force a week later for lack of evidence.

The recent arrest has reportedly been made in connection with reported revelations of alleged MQM militant commander Ahmed Saeed alias Bharam, whose arrest was recently disclosed by the Rangers.

Saeed is said to be the ring leader of an alleged militant wing of the party.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 25^th,  2016.