Ghauri leaves for Dubai after release in hate speech case

MQM leader and former minister for ports and shipping Babar Ghauri on Wednesday left for Dubai after Karachi police released him in a case pertaining to the facilitation of an alleged hate speech by the party founder.

Ghauri was arrested from Karachi airport on June 4 upon his return to the country, bringing an end to his seven-year self-imposed exile.

Next day, police obtained his physical remand from an administrative judge of the antiterrorism courts (ATC) to interrogate him and complete probe into the seven-year-old case.

On Wednesday, Ghauri was produced before the ATC, amid tight security, upon the expiry of his physical remand.

The investigation officer (IO) told the court that “solid evidence” against the MQM leader for his involvement in the alleged offence was not found.

The IO said record showed that the former minister was out of country when the case was registered against him.

The court rejected the report against Ghauri and directed the IO to present it according to the law.

The court remarked that the report should be presented according to Section 169 instead of Section 497.

The judge further asked the IO why they did not release Ghauri when no evidence was found against him.

The judge ordered for Ghauri to be released.

Later, in the evening, the MQM leader along with his wife left for Dubai from where they will travel to the US.