Nine-Zero raid: MQM submits licences for 105 weapons

Gun permits were presented at the IGP office for verification

KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has submitted to the inspector general of police office licences of 105 weapons, which were seized by Rangers in a raid on the party’s Nine-Zero headquarters.

According to the MQM, parliamentarians Rehan Zafar and Jamal Ahmed submitted the gun permits to the IGP office on Friday for verification. A party leader said the licences were in the names of MNAs, MPAs and other office-bearers.

When contacted, the IGP’s spokesperson denied any information about the submission of the arm licences by the MQM.

After a pre-dawn operation on March 11, the Rangers had showed the media a huge cache of guns and ammunition said to have been found at the party headquarters. The paramilitary force claimed some of the weapons were illegal and had been stolen from Nato containers supplying military supplies to soldiers in Afghanistan.

Hours later, rejecting the Rangers stance, MQM leader Faisal Subzwari had said weapons kept at Nine-Zero were all licenced. However, Altaf Hussain alleged the paramilitary personnel had brought the weapons with them and the ammunition did not belong to the party.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 28^th, 2015.