After the raid: 20 more people released by Rangers

KARACHI:

As many as 20 people detained during the raid at Nine Zero, the headquarters of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), were released late on Thursday night, bringing the total number of those released to 23.

Twenty more people, including party workers, supporters and five private security guards deputed at Nine Zero, were released by the Rangers on the night between Thursday and Friday after they were found to be uninvolved in criminal activity during the initial investigations. Earlier on Thursday, the law enforcers had released three members of the MQM information department.

MQM leader Aminul Haq told The Express Tribune that three members of the information department were released on Thursday evening while another, namely Tauqeer, was later released along with 19 more people. According to Haq, around 122 people were detained during the raid while over a dozen more remain missing.

The Rangers spokesperson, when contacted, had no information about the exact number of people detained and later released by the paramilitary force.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 14^th, 2015.