SHC sets aside conviction of MQM activist

Bench orders release of Abdul Faheem from prison if his custody was not required in any other case

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday set aside conviction of an activist of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in a case relating to illicit arms and explosives.

Headed by Justice Zafar Ahmed Rajput, the two-judge bench ordered the release of Abdul Faheem from the prison if his custody was not required in any other case.

Advocate Syed Mehmood Alam Rizvi said the appellant, Faheem, an employee of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board, was taken into custody by the law enforcement agencies from his Malir residence in November 2015.



The prosecution alleged that illicit arms and a hand grenade were found in his possession. Therefore, two separate cases were registered against him.

Subsequently, an anti-terrorism court convicted him and awarded 14-year imprisonment in both cases.

Advocate Rizvi argued that the appellant was already in the custody of the law enforcement agencies when they registered false cases and booked him.

The court was pleaded to set aside the conviction and sentences of the appellant as the trial court had erred in assessing the facts and evidence in the favour of the appellant.