Three MQM workers handed over to Rangers under 90-day preventive custody

The LEA claims all three are involved in targeted killings, kidnapping and extortion

KARACHI: Two anti-terrorism courts in Karachi handed over three workers of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) to Rangers under 90-day preventive custody.

The courts heard on Monday that Muhammad Abid was arrested from Samanabad while Abdul Waqar and Muhammad Ali were areested from Burns Road area for their alleged involvement in targeted killings and incidents of kidnapping and extortion.

Read: Protesting against Karachi operation, MQM stages walk out of National Assembly

The LEA claimed that they possessed credible evidence of the suspects’ involvement in the aforementioned criminal activities. After a brief conversation with the suspects, the courts allowed Rangers to interrogate them for 90 days.

The move comes a day after the MQM staged a walk out in the National Assembly in protest against the ongoing operation by Rangers in Karachi.

Read: Rangers raid Clifton restaurant owned by MQM MNA

Addressing the media after the walkout, party leader Farooq Sattar said that the Constitution and law were being sabotaged, and added that MNA Ali Raza Abidi’s restaurant had been ‘illegally’ sealed by law enforcement officials.

He was referring to the Rangers’ raid at Abidi’s popular restaurant in Clifton, Biryani of the Seas, and the arrest of an alleged target killer.

Read: Rangers raid MQM headquarters Nine-Zero, take two leaders into custody

Earlier this month, the LEA arrested 16 MQM workers for allegedly extorting money from Karachi’s Rizvia society.

“At least 1,000 receipts for donations and Rs31,500 were recovered from the men,” a press release said.