Former MQM leader released from jail

Saleem Shahzad was incarcerated in a case relating to treatment of terrorists

KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) issued on Friday an order for the release of former Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Saleem Shahzad from jail in connection with a case related to treatment of terrorists.

The ATC-II judge issued the order, directing the Karachi Central Prison's superintendent to release the incarcerated MQM leader 'forthwith, if he is not required in any other case(s)’.

Earlier, the court had granted him bail against a surety of Rs0.5 million on March 10, but he remained in prison due to non-issuance of release orders in other cases. Later, he obtained bail in four different cases.

A British national, Shahzad returned to the country in February ending a 20-year self-imposed exile, but the police had arrested him at Jinnah International Airport.



According to the prosecution, Shahzad, when with the MQM, had facilitated suspected terrorists injured in clashes with law enforcers at the Ziauddin Hospitals in Clifton and North Nazimabad. Other politicians - Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar, MQM’s Rauf Siddiqui, Pakistan Peoples Party's Qadir Patel, Pak Sarzameen Party's Anis Kaimkhani and Pasban-e-Pakistan's Usman Moazzam - are also implicated in the case.

The group of hospitals was run by former petroleum minister Dr Asim Hussain, who has been held as the primary suspect on the grounds that he had knowledge of the treatment of terrorists at his hospitals.

The case was registered under the Anti-Terrorism Act in November, 2015 at the North Nazimabad police station on the complaint of the Rangers. All suspects have obtained bail from the court.

1992 murder case

Meanwhile, the East additional district and sessions judge also issued orders for the MQM leader's release from prison in a murder case from 1992.

On April 22, the court had granted him bail against a surety of Rs0.5 million in a case relating to rioting, murder and attemptd murder lodged at the Landhi police station.