Summary The alleged criminals have pleaded not guilty
KARACHI (Dunya News) – Anti-terrorism court (ATC) has indicted as many as 26 workers of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in illegal weapons’ recovery case after they were arrested from Nine-Zero in March 2015, Dunya News reported Wednesday.
The indicted MQM workers include Faisal alias Mota, Ubaid alias K2 and Amir alias Sar Phatta.
However, the alleged criminals have pleaded not guilty. The court has summoned witnesses in the next hearing.
The workers who were apprehended from MQM headquarters Nine-Zero during a search and siege operation in March 2015 are accused of possessing explosives and illegal weapons.
Several arrests were made and weapons seized during Nine Zero raid. The troops had presented the weapons before media after the raid and claimed that some of the ammunition and guns were stolen from NATO containers. MQM chief Altaf Hussain had alleged Rangers of bringing illegal weapons along at the raid site.
In the following week, the raiding party stated that MQM failed to put forth licenses of 53 weapons. An official of the force stated that a total of 124 weapons were seized from the Khursheed Begum Memorial Hall while licenes of 107 were provided out of which only 71 had been verified.
It should be mentioned here that a targeted operation was launched against target killers, extortionists and operatives of banned outfits in September 2013 by the federation. The locals welcomed the operation and still are in favour of Rangers’ extension in stay as crime rate has deterred significantly in the city.
MQM has maintained all through the course of action by the paramilitary force that the party is being victimized while workers are being abducted and killed in cold blood.
The alleged victimized party criticised the federal government for the move and expressed reservations dozens of times. The provincial government followed suit officially after Rangers made attempts to nab big fish.
The most talked about arrest made in Sindh by Rangers, bearing special policing powers is that of former petroleum minister, Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) Dr Asim Hussain.
In 2015 alone, Rangers claimed to have arrested at least 40,74 suspects in more than 2,410 raids. Out of the total arrested, as many as 2,198 were handed over to Sindh Police for persecution.
