![mqm leader saleem shahzad is held by ssp malir rao anwar at the jinnah international airport in karachi on monday screen grab mqm leader saleem shahzad is held by ssp malir rao anwar at the jinnah international airport in karachi on monday screen grab](https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/1318226-saleemshahzadairportarrestkarachi-1486389258/1318226-saleemshahzadairportarrestkarachi-1486389258.jpg)
The self-exiled politician, who left for London in 1992, arrived in the country after 24 years, and was held by SSP Malir Rao Anwar at the Jinnah International Airport.
MQM's Saleem Shahzad says will return to Pakistan soon
Reaching #karachi inshallah Monday morning may Allah Bless our city,province and my country Ameen
— Saleem Shahzad (@saleemshahzad6) February 5, 2017
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Karachi, in December 2015, issued non-bailable arrest warrants for political leaders, including Shahzad, after they were declared absconders in the Dr Asim Hussain terror facilitation case.
[fbpost link="https://www.facebook.com/etribunevideo/videos/1319266891467262/"]
Immigration authorities confiscated the MQM leader's passport and contacted the police.
In August last year, Shahzad said he would soon return to Pakistan to strengthen MQM-Pakistan leader Farooq Sattar and his party, after Sattar dissociated the MQM from Altaf Hussain.
The MQM in 2014 suspended Shahzad’s party’s membership, extending a warning to all members to strictly adhere to its code of conduct. In April, his non-bailable arrest warrants were also issued by an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Dr Asim Hussain terror facilitation case.
Shahzad’s arrival was not planned
Meanwhile, MQM Pakistan said Shahzad did not discuss his arrival with the party.
“The possibility of him joining the party was not under consideration,” a statement said, adding the former leader had been away from politics. “We hope that Shahzad, who is also a cancer patient, will be provided justice according to law.”
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ