KARACHI, June 30: Secretary General of the Mohajir Qaumi Movement Amir Khan, who was arrested on Sunday morning, was remanded to the police for interrogation in a robbery case.

The Haqiqi leader was brought in an armoured personnel carrier to the court of Judicial Magistrate, Central, Ayaz Mustafa Jokhio, who handed him over to the police for seven days.

The Liaquatabad police had, however, sought a 14-day custody of Mr Khan for investigation and interrogation from the magistrate.

The case, registered under section 17 of the Enforcement of Hudood Ordinance, pertained to the snatching of two sub-machine guns from a constable, Liaquat Ali, on June 19, 1992 in Liaquatabad.

AFAQ: The chief of the Mohajir Qaumi Movement, Afaq Ahmad, has claimed that the MQM general secretary, Amir Khan, was asked by his captors to leave the country, but on his refusal his arrest was declared officially.

Talking to Dawn on Monday, Mr Ahmed said that Mr Khan’s arrest was part of the policy of “coalition of vested interest” to gag the voice of dissent.

According to the MQM chief, Mr Khan was picked up more than 24 hours before the authorities had officially acknowledged it. He said that Mr Khan was allegedly offered safe passage out of the country along with his family, however, Mr Khan refused the offer.

He claimed that the general secretary of his party was framed in “baseless” charges, because until recently top officials of the government had been holding meetings with him. “If Mr Khan was really wanted in such cases, why he was not arrested at that time,” he remarked.

Mr Ahmad alleged that the law was being misused to punish the opponents. He alleged that there were non-bailable warrants against chief minister’s advisor on home affairs, but nothing moved against him, as he was a part of the ruling coalition.

When Mr Ahmad was asked about the future course of action, he said that his party had never pursued the policy of confrontation with the state and would seek remedy through the courts of law.