MQM leader Khawaja Izharul Hasan released hours after arrest in Karachi

Sindh CM suspends the SSP Malir following MQM leader's arrest; PM takes notice

KARACHI: Karachi police released MQM leader Khawaja Izharul Hasan on Friday evening, hours after he was arrested from his residence in Karachi's Buffer Zone neighbourhood.

In a statement, additional IG Mustaq Maher said Hasan was released under Section 497-2B of Criminal Procedure Code (CrPc).

Former SSP Malir Rao Anwar had arrested the Leader of the Opposition in the Sindh Assembly following a raid at his house. Party's senior leader Farooq Sattar accompanied Hasan but was not arrested.

Condemning Hasan's arrest, Sattar while speaking to the media said, "The Leader of the Opposition in the Sindh Assembly has been arrested without a warrant."



"I asked Rao Anwar multiple times for a warrant and reason for the arrest but he did not provide this information," Sattar added.

Expressing anger, Sattar said Hasan's arrest was ‘unjustified and unlawful.’



“Police officials arrested the MQM leader and took him away after unlawfully entering his house without female police searchers, misbehaving with those in the house.”

Sattar went on to add that police carried out the raid on the pretext that those responsible for May 12 mayhem were hiding there, but they could not recover anyone from there.

Terming the arrests in the wake of May 12 an 'obsession,' Sattar said, "Nobody is talking about our 64 workers who were killed in extrajudicial killings, nobody is talking about our missing workers."

Meanwhile, the chief minister also suspended DIG East Kamran Fazal, surrendering his services to the federal government.

The notification of Anwar's suspension from duty was also issued.



A meeting of high police officials from Karachi is continuing at the office of SSP Malir.

DIG West Zulfiqar was appointed as DIG East while Korangi SSP Noman Siddiqui was given the charge of SSP Malir.

'Mass arrests'

We need a clarification on why this raid was carried out and on whose orders, Sattar said, before adding that MQM was ready for mass arrests of its workers if such raids were to continue in future.

"This is extremely humiliating to have our MNAs and MPAs arrested on a daily basis and the workers of the party are ready for a mass arrest if they were to avoid this humiliation once and for all," Sattar remarked.

The MQM leader demanded the prime minister, Sindh chief minister, army chief and corps commander Karachi to reveal why these arrests were being conducted and if this was “part of a well thought out agenda.”

Following Hasan's arrest, several MQM workers gathered outside his house and chanted slogans in favour of the MQM.

Police raiding @IzharulHassan house is surprising but deplorable despite his total disconnect from MQM's International Secretariat in London

— Mohammad Anwar (@MAnwarMQM) September 16, 2016

Earlier, CM Murad had summoned a report from IG Sindh regarding the raid.

More than 40 people were killed in a series of violent clashes between rival political parties in Karachi as they engaged in an ensuing gunfight following MQM’s blockade of then chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry arrival in the metropolis.

Police have been taking action against MQM leaders after party workers attacked media houses last month. Activists of the MQM ransacked a private television station before clashing with police, leaving at least one person dead and over half a dozen injured.

The rioting drew widespread condemnation from all political parties and prompted action by the paramilitary Rangers. At least nine MQM leaders, including Dr Sattar, were detained while the party’s headquarters, Nine Zero, were also searched and subsequently sealed.



Soon after, MQM leaders disassociated themselves complete-rely from Altaf, and also amended the party's constitution, naming the party as 'MQM-Pakistan'.

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PM telephones Sindh CM

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif telephoned CM Murad Ali Shah and inquired about the MQM leader's arrest. According to the premier, arrest of any lawmaker without prior consent of the Speaker was unlawful.

The prime minister directed the rule of law be ensured at all costs, saying punitive action be taken against the police official [making the arrest] according to the law if he is found responsible.

The CM assured the premier that investigations of the arrest were underway, indicating that a relevant action will be taken as per law.

Khawaja Izhar arrest made as per law: SSP Anwar

Talking to the media shortly after his suspension, SSP Anwar said he arrested Izhar while remaining completely under the ambit of law and its provisions, adding he was suspended hastily in a “politically motivated move”.



“Khawaja Izhar is viewed as chief of target killers and there are number of FIRs registered against him, which he has not been bailed, leading to his arrest,” the suspended police chief said.



Anwar said arresting an MNA or MPA does not require any warrant or consent of the Speaker, rather it just required an information to the secretary of the Sindh Assembly or the National Assembly.

“Dr Farooq Sattar should also be arrested,” he added.

The disgruntled SSP went on to say that he could render his resignation the way he was suspended while dispensing his duty.

“Izharul Hasan cannot be set free through any authority but through a judge of the anti-terrorism court.”

According to the Malir police chief, the MQM has called in more people from South Africa to attack soft targets and tear apart the law and order that was established by security forces in the city with immense efforts.