Preventive detention: Babar Chughtai detained for 90 days

The suspect was accused by the Rangers of patronising a crime network in the city

KARACHI: The Pakistan Rangers informed an anti-terrorism court on Tuesday about the three-month preventive detention of a real estate businessman, Babar Chughtai, who has been accused of patronising a ‘criminal’ network in the city. Chughtai, a former chairperson of the Association of Builders and Developers, was arrested from District East a day earlier.

Soon after his arrest, the rumour mill kicked into action regarding the charges for which he was taken into custody. It was speculated that he was arrested on charges of land grabbing or in connection to the murder of slain Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader, Dr Imran Farooq.

However, none of these speculations have been substantiated yet, as the paramilitary officials along with their legal team presented the suspect before the ATC-I judge, Bashir Ahmed Khoso, inside his chamber.

The suspect, clad in an off-white cotton shalwar kameez and traditional black leather Peshawari sandals, was brought to the court amid tight security. The prosecution contended they had 'credible' information against the suspect for his alleged involvement in target killings, kidnappings and extortion activities. The suspect was detained for three months under Section 11EEEE (1) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.

According to sources, Chughtai will be placed in a special cell at the central jail and will be interrogated by the law enforcement agencies during his detention.  No reaction from the business fraternity was witnessed as Chughtai was taken into custody. However, the MQM strongly criticised his detention terming it as a 'vindictive' act.

He has been arrested because he was closely associated with the MQM and gave funds to the party, read a statement issued by the party's co-ordination committee.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 15^th, 2015.