Out on bail: Almost four months on, Amir Khan released from jail

MQM leader vows to face any allegations made against him

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Amir Khan was released from Karachi Central Jail on Tuesday and has vowed to face any allegations made against him.

“In the past, the party has faced every conspiracy and come out clean. Like the party, I will also come out clean,” said Khan upon his arrival at the party headquarters, Nine Zero, where he was welcomed by other party leaders and showered with flower petals.

Khan, the Nine-Zero security incharge, was arrested by the Rangers during the March 11 raid at the MQM headquarters and was subsequently detained by the paramilitary force for 90 days.

A number of convicted and wanted suspects, such as Faisal Mahmood alias Mota, who was condemned to death for killing journalist Wali Babar, Ubaid Khursheed alias K2, who was wanted for a number of high-profile policemen murders, and Noman alias Nomi, the key absconding suspect in Advocate Naimat Ali Randhawa murder case, were also apprehended during the raid.

Khan was later produced in an anti-terrorism court on charges of instigating terrorism and harbouring criminals. The MQM leader was released from the Karachi Central Jail on Tuesday after being granted bail when his lawyers submitted surety bonds worth Rs1 million.

In his brief talk with the media following his release, Khan called party chief Altaf Hussain a patriotic Pakistani. “There are conspiracies being hatched against us but the MQM can never be broken by them, no matter how many allegations are made,” he claimed, adding that it was Hussain’s teaching that they should patiently deal with all situations.

Khan said that while he was happy about being released after remaining imprisoned for four months, he was sad at the same time. “Hundreds of workers are in jail and in the custody of the law enforcement agencies, facing brutal torture, and many others are missing,” he pointed out.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 1^st, 2015.