Waseem Akhtar, Anees Qaimkhani, Rauf Siddique detained in Dr Asim case
Abdul Qadir Patel of Pakistan Peoples Party offered his arrest at the Boat Basin police statio
KARACHI (Web Desk) – Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leaders Waseem Akhtar, Rauf Siddique and Pak Sarzameen Party’s Anees Qaimkhani have been taken into custody after an anti-terrorism court (ATC) dismissed their bail pleas in a case registered against Dr Asim Hussain and others for treating and sheltering terrorists at Ziauddin Hospital in Karachi.
Pakistan People s Party (PPP) leader Abdul Qadir Patel offered his arrest at the Boat Basin police station as he dismissed reports of him fleeing from the court while conversing with the media, adding that he was forcefully being involved in the case.
PHOTO: PPP leader Abdul Qadir Patel outside the court before escaping from the scene
Speaking to Dunya News, Karachi‘s mayor nominee Waseem Akhtar declared his detention ‘unconstitutional and unlawful‘.
Sources indicated that Waseem was involved in the exchange of harsh arguments with the law enforcement agency members as he attempted to go outside the court but was barred from doing so. He vowed to file a formal appeal in the Sindh High Court (SHC) against the decision.
Earlier, Sindh Home Minister Suhail Anwar Sial also issued orders for Qadir Patel s arrest. A team led by Senior Superintendent Police (SSP) Farooq Awan and SSP City Faizullah Korejo was formed and was given the task to apprehend Patel. Police conducted raids at the PPP leader s office and his residence in Defence for his apprehension.
However, Qadir Patel later issued a statement in which he announced that he shall offer himself for arrest at the Boat Basin police station, further adding that he respected the court s orders.
While conversing with the media, Patel stated that he did not flee from the court, adding that the doors of the court were closed. He said that he then went to do consultation with his lawyers. "I was informed that the bail was rejected and that we now have to go to the High Court," Patel said.
According to the investigation report, Dr Asim Hussain had confessed before a joint investigation team to have provided treatment to alleged MQM terrorists and gangsters of Lyari at his hospital and sheltered them on the request of MQM leaders Waseem Akhtar, Rauf Siddiqui, the then deputy convener Anis Qaimkhani and PPP leader Qadir Patel.
The suspected terrorists had suffered wounds during clash with Rangers and police.
The paramilitary Rangers had arrested Dr Hussain, former president Asif Zardari’s close aid and the chairman of the Sindh Higher Education Commission, from his office in Clifton area last year.
