Gone ‘missing’: MQM former nazim released by law enforcers

KARACHI:

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) former parliamentarian and town nazim, who was picked up on Thursday night, was released by the law-enforcement agencies the next morning.

On Thursday night, Osama Qadri was picked up from outside Dolmen City Mall in Clifton, where he had gone for the inauguration of Johnny Rockets burger joint. SSP East Pir Muhammad said that the MQM leader was picked up by the investigation police for interrogation in a case, which has yet to be specified.



“Qadri was released on personal bond from my office on Friday but my team had nothing to do with his detention,” the SSP clarified.

Other police officers also tried to distance themselves from the case and the investigations SP was unavailable for comments. Meanwhile, officers at Ferozabad police station, who were believed to be a part of the arrest, insisted that officials in higher positions were behind the detention.

Rabita Committee member Wasay Jalil told The Express Tribune that no law-enforcement agencies were ready to own the arrest. “We don’t know why Qadri was arrested and by whom. No one is taking responsibility.” Qadri was not subjected to any kind of torture in custody, said Jalil but added that he was abused verbally.

Another MQM leader Aminul Haque said that this incident and previous ones have cast doubts on the ongoing operation. “We had said earlier that people should only be arrested when the agencies are sure of the crimes.”

The Rabita Committee had earlier stated that Qadri was picked up in a double cabin Vigo bearing a Sindh government licence plate. They had also appealed to the prime minister, the president, the Sindh chief minister and the governor to recover him as soon as possible.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 7^th, 2013.