On Rangers complaint: MQM chief booked for ‘hurling threats’
Paramilitary force cites Altaf’s TV interview remarks
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain. PHOTO: MQM FACEBOOK PAGE
KARACHI:
A week after the paramilitary Rangers raided the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) headquarters in Karachi and arrested “dozens of convicted criminals and target killers”, the police on Tuesday lodged an FIR against the party chief Altaf Hussain for “issuing serious threats to Rangers officials”.
Rangers spokesperson Colonel Tahir Mehmood had sent a written complaint to the Civil Lines police station seeking registration of a case against the MQM chief citing Altaf’s ‘threatening remarks’ during a television interview after the March 11 Rangers raid on Nine-Zero.
“On the same day at 10:00pm, MQM’s leader Altaf Hussain, while giving [a television] interview... uttered the following words against the officers of Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) who conducted the raid at Nine-Zero: ‘Those Rangers officials who conducted the raid at my house have become things of the past’.”
On the basis of the complaint, the police Monday night lodged an FIR under Section 506-B [punishment for criminal intimidation] of the Pakistan Penal Code read with Section 7 (h) to (n) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.
Talking to The Express Tribune, SSP Investigation for Karachi South Faizullah Korejo said the police have started investigating the charges mentioned in the FIR against the MQM chief.
“The legal technicalities due to absence of the accused in the country will be discussed with the police’s legal and prosecution department,” said the police officer. “The police will have a 30-day period to complete investigations during which more charges could be added.”
Previous cases against Altaf
In the past too, Altaf Hussain has faced cases ranging from kidnapping an army officer to stealing uniform of a police constable. Altaf became a top beneficiary of the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) – promulgated in 2007 by former military ruler General Pervez Musharraf – under which 72 cases against him were dismissed. These cases included 31 of murder, and 11 of attempted murder.
Giving details of some of these cases, a party official said the first FIR was registered against Altaf on August 14, 1979 when he was arrested for burning the national flag at Mazar-e-Quaid during a protest held to support the return of Pakistanis stranded in Bangladesh after the fall of Dhaka. Altaf was court martialled and sentenced to nine-month imprisonment and five lashes.
During the 1986 riots in Hyderabad and Karachi, several cases were filed against the MQM chief. He was arrested after addressing a gathering at the Pucca Qila ground in Hyderabad, where he reportedly urged his followers to strive for a separate country for the Mohajir community. The charges, however, were later dropped and he was released.
Interestingly, one of the cases registered in 1986 involved ‘stealing a constable’s belt and cap’. A year later, Altaf courted arrest to protest against the raids against his workers. Several cases were filed against him during the 1990s army operation. One of these cases involved abduction and torture of Major Kaleem, a serving army official.
In London, Altaf is facing investigations by the Scotland Yard for money-laundering while party workers are undergoing probe into the murder of former MQM leader Dr Imran Farooq.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 18th, 2015.
A week after the paramilitary Rangers raided the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) headquarters in Karachi and arrested “dozens of convicted criminals and target killers”, the police on Tuesday lodged an FIR against the party chief Altaf Hussain for “issuing serious threats to Rangers officials”.
Rangers spokesperson Colonel Tahir Mehmood had sent a written complaint to the Civil Lines police station seeking registration of a case against the MQM chief citing Altaf’s ‘threatening remarks’ during a television interview after the March 11 Rangers raid on Nine-Zero.
“On the same day at 10:00pm, MQM’s leader Altaf Hussain, while giving [a television] interview... uttered the following words against the officers of Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) who conducted the raid at Nine-Zero: ‘Those Rangers officials who conducted the raid at my house have become things of the past’.”
On the basis of the complaint, the police Monday night lodged an FIR under Section 506-B [punishment for criminal intimidation] of the Pakistan Penal Code read with Section 7 (h) to (n) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.
Talking to The Express Tribune, SSP Investigation for Karachi South Faizullah Korejo said the police have started investigating the charges mentioned in the FIR against the MQM chief.
“The legal technicalities due to absence of the accused in the country will be discussed with the police’s legal and prosecution department,” said the police officer. “The police will have a 30-day period to complete investigations during which more charges could be added.”
Previous cases against Altaf
In the past too, Altaf Hussain has faced cases ranging from kidnapping an army officer to stealing uniform of a police constable. Altaf became a top beneficiary of the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) – promulgated in 2007 by former military ruler General Pervez Musharraf – under which 72 cases against him were dismissed. These cases included 31 of murder, and 11 of attempted murder.
Giving details of some of these cases, a party official said the first FIR was registered against Altaf on August 14, 1979 when he was arrested for burning the national flag at Mazar-e-Quaid during a protest held to support the return of Pakistanis stranded in Bangladesh after the fall of Dhaka. Altaf was court martialled and sentenced to nine-month imprisonment and five lashes.
During the 1986 riots in Hyderabad and Karachi, several cases were filed against the MQM chief. He was arrested after addressing a gathering at the Pucca Qila ground in Hyderabad, where he reportedly urged his followers to strive for a separate country for the Mohajir community. The charges, however, were later dropped and he was released.
Interestingly, one of the cases registered in 1986 involved ‘stealing a constable’s belt and cap’. A year later, Altaf courted arrest to protest against the raids against his workers. Several cases were filed against him during the 1990s army operation. One of these cases involved abduction and torture of Major Kaleem, a serving army official.
In London, Altaf is facing investigations by the Scotland Yard for money-laundering while party workers are undergoing probe into the murder of former MQM leader Dr Imran Farooq.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 18th, 2015.