KARACHI - As many as 20 more suspects detained during the raid at the Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s headquarter Nine-Zero were released on Friday.
Rangers had released three MQM workers on Thursday while the remaining 20 workers were released on Friday when they were not found guilty during the investigation, bringing the number of released activists to 23 since Thursday.
As many as 86 suspects were produced before the courts including the MQM coordination committee member Amir Khan. Some 60 suspects were booked for 90 days remand under Pakistan Protection Ordinance (PPO) and rest of them were handed over to the police.
Party workers, supporters and around five guards of the private security agency who were deputed at Nine-Zero’s surroundings for security duties were also among the persons released. The Rangers released them after they were found innocent during the initial investigations.
Three members of the information department were released on Thursday evening and another member of the information department namely Tauqeer was also released on late Thursday night. Nineteen more were released on the night between Thursday and Friday.
REMAND OF 58 SUSPECTS GIVEN
An Anti-Terrorism Court handed over Faisal Motta, the main convict in the killing of TV reporter Wali Khan Babar, to Rangers on a 90-day physical remand after he along with other 58 suspects arrested from Nine-Zero were produced in the court on Friday.
The Sindh Rangers produced the suspects including Mota, Abdur Rehman Bhola, Farhan Mullah and Irfan K2 in the ATC to get their physical remand.
Additionally, police have requested the remand of 26 suspects for 14 days. Of the 26 suspects, four have been involved in previous cases including Faisal Mota who was condemned to death by the court over his involvement in the murder of TV journalist Wali Khan Babar.
Mota has been handed over to police and will be on remand until March 25.
The paramilitary force had arrested the suspects including hardened and wanted criminals during a pre-dawn swoop on the MQM headquarters Nine-Zero on Thursday.
The Rangers produced the blindfolded suspects in the court amid tight security. The Rangers told the court that several wanted criminals and extortionists were among the arrested suspects, requesting the court to allow physical remand of the suspects before they were handed over to the police for framing a formal charge sheet against them.
The Rangers also told the court that courts have already convicted some of the arrested suspects including Mota and K2.
Judicial commission formed: Khursheed
NNI adds: Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly and Pakistan People’s Party leader, Khursheed Ahmed Shah has said that Sindh government has formed a judicial commission to probe into the Rangers raid at MQM headquarters at Nine-Zero Azizabad.
He was addressing a tolerance festival here on Friday. He said there was no tension between Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and MQM. He added that Pakistan People’s Party is trying to play a role in bringing MQM and PML-N closer.
The opposition leader said an investigation report regarding the culprits behind Baldia Town factory fire will be released soon. The PPP leader asked that how did the votes of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate for Deputy Chairman of Senate increased during the voting process.
“Khan talks against horse trading and he should explain first that how his party candidate received 16 votes instead of six during the polls,” he said. He added the persons involved in horse trading will be exposed soon.