MQM leaders assured party founder of following his orders: witness

ATC reserves verdicts on three cases registered against Uzair Baloch

KARACHI:

Inspector Ali Raza- a witness in cases registered against Muttahida Qaumi Movement leaders on charges of raising anti-state slogans, perpertrating terrorism and attackind a media house, registered against Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leaders- testified while giving his statement to an anti-terrorism court on Saturday that Farooq Sattar, Amir Khan and other leaders of the party had assured the MQM founder on August 22, 2016 that his orders of perpetrating violence would be fulfilled.

The MQM founder had delivered a fiery speech during his address to party workers on August 22, 2016, after which the workers vandalised a media office and shouted anti-state slogans.

Corroborating this account, inspector Raza further informed the court party leaders, including Sattar and Amir, who were present on the stage, had also provoked the crowd.

He said the crowd later set vehicles on fire and attacked a media house on the orders of MQM leaders.

The witness also identified Sattar before the court.

Sattar, Qamar Mansoor and other MQM leaders implicated in the cases appeared before the court during the hearing at Karachi Central Jail.

Khan’s lawyer, however, sought exemption for his client from attending the hearings.

But the court directed all accused and witnesses to attended the next hearing on February 27.

According to the police, cases against the accused were registered at Azizabad, Sachal, Brigade and other police stations in 2016.

In August that year, the MQM founder had delivered a fiery speech via telephone to a party gathering outside the Karachi Press Club after which party workers chanted anti-Pakistan slogans and then vandalised a media office nearby.

Verdicts reserved

An anti-terrorism court reserved on Saturday verdicts on three cases, including one pertaining to an attack on police during Lyari operation, against Lyari gang war kingpin Uzair Baloch.

The court heard the cases at Karachi Central Jail, where lawyers presented their arguments.

Following the completion of the arguments, the court reserved the verdict on the three cases, which were registered at Kalri police station, and adjourned the hearing.

Uzair Baloch has been acquitted in more than five cases thus far and is facing trial in over 50 cases.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 14^th, 2021.