Faisal Raza Abidi sent to jail for two weeks

KARACHI/HYDERABAD: A special-duty judicial magistrate remanded on Sunday former Pakistan Peoples Party senator Faisal Raza Abidi to jail for two weeks in a case pertaining to possession of an illicit weapon.

Abidi was taken into custody late Friday night when Rangers raided his house in New Rizvia Society reportedly on the basis of some intelligence reports that he was allegedly involved in the 'sectarian' targeted killing of two people earlier that day.



The police, however, presented him in an illicit weapon case, submitting that during the house search, six arms, including Kalashnikovs and sub-machine guns, were found. The former senator did not provide the licence of one of the weapons and it was established that it was in his possession illegally, the law enforcement agency maintained.

The Malir district magistrate, who was performing special duty on the holiday, sent Abidi to jail on judicial remand till November 19 and directed the investigation officer to present the charge-sheet against the suspect at the next hearing. The case is registered under Section 23(1)a of the Sindh Arms Act at the Sacchal police station.



Supporters of Majlis-i-Wahdatul Muslimeen protested in many districts of Sindh on Sunday, demanding Abidi's release. Protesters in Hyderabad, Tando Muhammad Khan and other districts said the police are avoiding arresting the real culprits.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 7^th, 2016.