The order that caught the accused off guard

MQM leaders termed the order ‘political victimisation’

KARACHI: The strange uneasiness creeping into the air suggested that something unusual was going to happen. Everybody was murmuring before the decision was pronounced. Some believed it would favour the accused while some thought otherwise. The rest, especially journalists, chose to listen carefully to those around them and penned it all down.

The anti-terrorism court was buzzing on Tuesday when the clerk's announcement echoed. A pin drop silence prevailed. Everyone rose from their benches. The judge, in her black robe, emerged from the back door.



The judge called the accused one by one: Waseem Akhtar, Rauf Siddiqui, Anis Kaimkhani and Qadir Patel. All (except Patil) replied in affirmative as if a school attendance was under way. Patel's lawyer, Qadir Khan Mandokhel, informed that his client will be coming in a while but he never showed up, at least not inside the courtroom.

"I have heard arguments from both the sides; prosecution and defence," the judge started pronouncing the decision. "I have come to the point that…" those still talking in undertone were hushed "…there are sufficient materials to connect the accused in the case." Journalists thumbed their smart phones to unlock them and rushed outside. "The bail is rejected," they heard the judge state.

The buzzing started again. Akhtar, the likely mayor of the metropolis, protested and remarked that on the basis of the joint investigation team's report he could not be arrested. "This is political victimisation," he commented angrily. Siddiqui joined in. The judge ordered silence and left for her chamber.

Outside the courtroom, the order was being relayed by journalists in real time to their respective newsrooms.

Meanwhile, inside the courtroom, Akhtar, Siddiqui and Kaimkhani were busy with their lawyers over the next step to secure bail. Patel arrived, only to leave as soon as he could.



As soon as the news of Patel's 'escape' added to the stream, the police became alert and restricted the movement around the court premises. Those outside were not allowed to enter. Those inside were not allowed to leave.

The decision was announced at around 2pm, however, it took three hours for the investigating officer, DSP Altaf Hussain, to formally arrest the accused and transport them to jail. All the accused moved freely around the court building, held meetings with their lawyers and talked to others over the phone - a facility they might not have been able to enjoy in jail had they been held immediately.

When the time came to move, police contingents from all over District South were summoned.

Two separate vehicles were called in; one for the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) duo and the other for Kaimkhani, their old colleague-turned-rival, of the Pak Sarzameen Party.

The MQM men seemed to cash in on their arrest. As the armoured vehicle carrying Akhtar and Siddiqui moved out of the building, their lawyers started chanting slogans praising the party chief. Hearing the chants, Akhtar rose from the opening in the roof, made a victory sign, and shouted his party's slogan.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 20^th, 2016.