Detention discoveries: Custody of MQM’s Amir Khan handed over to Gulberg police

Rangers register case against MQM leader for ‘harbouring criminals’

KARACHI:

A day after the Rangers registered case against Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Amir Khan for 'harbouring criminals' at the party headquarters, his custody was handed over to Gulberg police.

Gulberg police station's investigation officer Mobin Zaidi confirmed that the Rangers have handed Khan over to him for further investigations. However, the case against Khan was registered at Azizabad police station on Wednesday night.



Khan was arrested by the paramilitary force during a raid on MQM headquarters, Nine Zero, on March 11. He was in the custody of Pakistan Rangers, Sindh, and his 90-day detention under the Pakistan Protection Ordinance was about to end on June 11. During the raid, Rangers claimed to have arrested nearly half-a-dozen target killers including Faisal Mehmood alias Mota, who was condemned to death by a court over his involvement in the murder of television journalist Wali Khan Babar.

The FIR (No 176/15) registered at Azizabad police station includes Section 7 of the anti-terrorism act and has been filed on the complaint of a Rangers official, Muhammad Riaz, who has accused Khan of protecting criminals.

Talking about Khan's case, former Sindh prosecutor general Shahadat Awan told The Express Tribune that the police were bound to produce the suspect before a magistrate's court only if it had arrested him. Section 61 of the Code of Criminal Procedure states that the person arrested cannot be detained for more than 24 hours.

MQM chief reacts

MQM chief Altaf Hussain condemned the death of a party worker in police custody and the case registered against Rabita Committee member Amir Khan for harbouring criminals. "Nawaz Sharif and his government will be answerable for the false case registered against Amir Khan, and the murder of Waseem Dehlavi," said Hussain, in an address to his workers and party leaders early on Thursday.

During the raid at Nine Zero on March 11, Rangers official Colonel Tahir had said that Khan was not being arrested, that he was their guest and would be released after interrogation, reminded out Hussain. "A case has now been registered against Amir with an ATA section, which shows that the Ranger's official was lying," he said. "Such officers who lie don't deserve to wear uniforms. Army chief Raheel Sharif should order court martial of those who lie."

Published in The Express Tribune, June 5^th, 2015.