KARACHI: MQM insists on declaring JI terrorist organization: Nepalese suspect’s arrest fit case: Farooq
By Our Reporter
KARACHI, Oct 19: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement believes that the Nepal national, who was picked up from the Yaum-i-Ali procession, is a terrorist and urges the president, prime minister and the National Security Council to take serious notice of his connections with the Jamaat-i-Islami, which should be disbanded for its involvement in terrorist activities in the country and abroad.
This was stated by the Deputy Convenor of the MQM coordination committee Dr Farooq Sattar, who is also the party’s parliamentary leader in the National Assembly, while addressing a press conference at the Khurshid Memorial Hall, Azizabad on Thursday.
Although no explosive or other such substance was recovered from the Nepali national, Shafiq Alam Falahi, the MQM leader claimed that timely action against him by the local police and administration “foiled a possible terrorist activity”. He also claimed that Falahi’s presence in the procession in a suspicious manner was part of Jamaat-i-Islami’s complicity in international terrorist activity.
It may be recalled that after being picked up by the police initially, Falahi was released after questioning, though briefly.
Dr Farooq Sattar said the Nepali national had arrived in Lahore on September 25 and had stayed in the JI’s headquarters in Mansoora. From there, he arrived in Karachi on October 9 and stayed at the Idara Noor-i-Haq and collected funds for his institution in Nepal, Dr Sattar added.
According to the MQM leader, when the police picked up Falahi on suspicion, they recovered receipts of the financial assistance and letters from the JI’s foreign affairs department and its Amir in Karachi together with other documents, recommending him to collect donations for his institution in Nepal.
According to sources in the police, the Nepali national was released after brief interrogation but was picked up again the same evening for interrogation. No FIR was initially registered. Adviser on Information also confirmed that the suspect was detained again the same evening. According to sources, the Nepali national had travelled to Pakistan on a valid travel document.
Dr Farooq Sattar emphasised that the arrival of a Nepali national in Pakistan, his stay at the JI headquarters and possession of recommendation letters from JI leaders to collect donations was ample proof that the JI was an international terrorist organisation involved in terrorist activities within and outside Pakistan in complicity with other terrorist organisations.
He, however, did not elaborate how the possession of recommendatory letters to collect donations could be linked with terrorist intent and activity.
Dr Farooq Sattar also asked the JI leaders why this Nepali national sought their help when other religious organisations were also operating religious seminaries and institutions. Why he couldn’t find any other place to stay? he asked. He claimed that many of the foreign terrorists belonging to the Al Qaeda had been arrested from the residences of JI leaders.
He said that recovery of receipts of donations from Nepali national was also a proof of JI’s involvement in extortion and street crime. Photocopies of the JI recommendation letters issued by its foreign affairs department and Amir of Jamaat-i-Islami, Karachi, were also released to the press.
Asked whether any arms were recovered from his possession, Dr Farooq Sattar told reporters that as soon as investigations were completed and any lead was available, the media would be briefed accordingly.
According to police sources, no FIR of terrorist activity had been registered against Falahi.
