ATC rejects bails of 26 MQM workers charged with possessing weapons

Accused included MQM workers who had hidden weapons, explosives at Nine-Zero

KARACHI: A special anti-terrorism court (ATC) rejected the bail pleas of 26 accused including Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) workers Faisal alias Mota, Obaid K2 and Qadir Hangoro in cases pertaining to the recovery of automatic weapons and explosives from the MQM headquarter Nine-Zero.

During the hearing that was held at the ATC complex at Karachi Central Jail on Thursday, the Rangers' prosecutor maintained that Sindh Rangers raided Nine-Zero on March 11, 2015 and found a large number of automatic and illegal weapons and explosives. The MQM workers were wanted in the investigations pertaining to terrorist activities and they were hiding inside Nine-Zero, therefore their pleas should be rejected, argued the prosecutor.

The counsel for accused argued, however, that there was no strong evidence against the accused so they should be released on bail.



Bail rejected

A special ATC rejected the bail plea of accused police constable Shahid related to Intezar murder case.

The verdict was announced on Thursday at the Karachi Central Jail ATC complex in which the jail officials presented accused Tariq Raheem, Tariq Mehmood, Azhar Hassan, Fahad and others. According to police, nine people have been nominated in the case, of whom Ghulam Abbas was on bail while others were in jail.

Court adjourned the hearing till April 24 on the request of petitioner's counsel Barrister Salahudin Panhwar. According to police, Intezar was murdered in Defence Housing Authority (DHA) area and the case against the accused was registered at Darakhshan Police Station.



Naqeebullah murder case

A special ATC adjourned the hearing on Thursday of Naqeebullah murder case till April 24 on the request of lawyers.

Former Malir SSP Rao Anwar, DSP Qamar and others appeared in the court along with investigation officer Dr Rizwan and three witnesses. The witnesses included judicial magistrate Mehar Saghar, inspector Shakir and Muhammad Khan.

Barrister Salahudin Panhwar argued that the hearing should be adjourned due to the ongoing strike by Karachi Bar Association. The court, accepting the request, adjourned the hearing.

Court also ordered to unblock the National Identity Cards (NICs) of three accused including Anar, Faisal and Khair Muhammad.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 12^th, 2019.