Nine-Zero raid: Another 32 suspects remanded into Rangers’ custody
A day earlier, 28 MQM workers were also remanded into the Rangers’ custody
A day earlier, 28 MQM workers were also remanded into the Rangers’ custody. PHOTO: MOHAMMAD SAQIB/EXPRESS
KARACHI:
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Friday remanded another 32 Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) activists into the custody of the paramilitary Rangers for 90 days.
A day earlier, 28 MQM workers, including its Rabita Committee member Amir Khan, were also remanded into the Rangers’ custody.
These workers were among more than 100 people detained by the paramilitary force on Wednesday during a pre-dawn raid on MQM’s Nine-Zero headquarters in Karachi.
Rangers personnel later claimed that they had arrested convicted criminals and target killers during the raid and also recovered a huge cache of illegal weapons – a claim rejected by the political party.
On Friday, Rangers personnel also handed over to police the 26 suspects against whom first information reports were registered on Thursday. These suspects were later sent on a two-week physical remand.
Earlier, the Rangers, citing their special powers, informed the ATC-II about taking the 32 suspects into preventive detention.
Meanwhile, at least 19 people detained during the raid, were released late Thursday night, bringing the total number of people released to 23. Earlier, the law enforcers had released four people, including three members of the MQM information department.
Those freed included party workers, supporters and five private security guards deputed at Nine Zero. They were cleared of involvement in any criminal activity during the initial investigations.
Nooruddin Subhani, a cook at Nine-Zero, was also among those released by the Rangers. On Wednesday, the Rangers had issued his pictures to the media, identifying him as a target killer.
According to MQM leader Aminul Haq, over a dozen men were missing from amongst the 122 detained during the raid and could not be accounted for.
Those detained by the Rangers were divided into two groups: one comprising those against whom cases were already registered and two those involved in criminal activities.
When contacted, the Rangers spokesperson said he had no information about the exact number of people detained and later released by the paramilitary force.
MQM press conference
MQM leader Haider Abbas Rizvi told a news conference that his party had maintained its stance that the Rangers had detained “common people” during Wednesday’s raid and later portrayed them as dangerous criminals.
“Drivers, cooks and residents of the area and members of various departments were arrested during the operation, which is a gross violation of human rights,” he said. These actions are also “unconstitutional and illegal”, according to him.
Rizvi said if the raid was an intelligence-based operation, then why was MQM chief Altaf Hussain’s sister’s residence raided twice. He also claimed that all the weapons seized during the operation were licenced.
“The US denies that Nato weapons were stolen from Karachi port but we are still being blamed for it,” he added. He said Nine Zero has never been a no-go area and all measures for Nine-Zero’s security were taken in view of threats of attacks by the Taliban during May 2013 elections.
Condemning the way the MQM workers and Rabita Committee member Amir Khan were presented in the court in blindfolds, he said not even Taliban terrorists were presented in court in this manner.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 14th, 2015.
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Friday remanded another 32 Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) activists into the custody of the paramilitary Rangers for 90 days.
A day earlier, 28 MQM workers, including its Rabita Committee member Amir Khan, were also remanded into the Rangers’ custody.
These workers were among more than 100 people detained by the paramilitary force on Wednesday during a pre-dawn raid on MQM’s Nine-Zero headquarters in Karachi.
Rangers personnel later claimed that they had arrested convicted criminals and target killers during the raid and also recovered a huge cache of illegal weapons – a claim rejected by the political party.
On Friday, Rangers personnel also handed over to police the 26 suspects against whom first information reports were registered on Thursday. These suspects were later sent on a two-week physical remand.
Earlier, the Rangers, citing their special powers, informed the ATC-II about taking the 32 suspects into preventive detention.
Meanwhile, at least 19 people detained during the raid, were released late Thursday night, bringing the total number of people released to 23. Earlier, the law enforcers had released four people, including three members of the MQM information department.
Those freed included party workers, supporters and five private security guards deputed at Nine Zero. They were cleared of involvement in any criminal activity during the initial investigations.
Nooruddin Subhani, a cook at Nine-Zero, was also among those released by the Rangers. On Wednesday, the Rangers had issued his pictures to the media, identifying him as a target killer.
According to MQM leader Aminul Haq, over a dozen men were missing from amongst the 122 detained during the raid and could not be accounted for.
Those detained by the Rangers were divided into two groups: one comprising those against whom cases were already registered and two those involved in criminal activities.
When contacted, the Rangers spokesperson said he had no information about the exact number of people detained and later released by the paramilitary force.
MQM press conference
MQM leader Haider Abbas Rizvi told a news conference that his party had maintained its stance that the Rangers had detained “common people” during Wednesday’s raid and later portrayed them as dangerous criminals.
“Drivers, cooks and residents of the area and members of various departments were arrested during the operation, which is a gross violation of human rights,” he said. These actions are also “unconstitutional and illegal”, according to him.
Rizvi said if the raid was an intelligence-based operation, then why was MQM chief Altaf Hussain’s sister’s residence raided twice. He also claimed that all the weapons seized during the operation were licenced.
“The US denies that Nato weapons were stolen from Karachi port but we are still being blamed for it,” he added. He said Nine Zero has never been a no-go area and all measures for Nine-Zero’s security were taken in view of threats of attacks by the Taliban during May 2013 elections.
Condemning the way the MQM workers and Rabita Committee member Amir Khan were presented in the court in blindfolds, he said not even Taliban terrorists were presented in court in this manner.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 14th, 2015.