MQM’s Wasim Akhtar booked over sedition, terror charges

Imtiaz Ali Published October 3, 2015

KARACHI: Another leader of Muttahida Qaumi Movement was booked on Friday under sedition and terror charges, it has been learnt.

Site Superhighway police have registered FIR (451/2015) against MQM leader Wasim Akhtar, said Sohrab Goth DSP Mohammad Khalid Khan.

The officer added that the MQM leader has been booked under Sections 123-A (Condemnation of the creation of the State and advocate of abolition of its sovereignty), 124-A (Sedition) of Pakistan Penal Code and Telegraph Act and Section 7 of Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997.

Earlier on Thursday, police registered a sedition case against a senior London-based MQM leader on the complaint of a local resident, who cited media reports as the sole evidence in his plea.

Though the police authorities did not come up with any immediate plans against Muhammad Anwar, the MQM leader, the Muttahida termed the case continuation of a “state-backed campaign against the party”, vowing to take the legal course to counter the allegation.

“An FIR has been registered against Muhammad Anwar at the Gulbahar police station on a complaint of local resident Imran Bikik,” said DIG-West Feroze Shah.

“He approached the police and filed a complaint after which the due process was followed to register the FIR (No 148/2015). The main crux of the sections in the FIR alleges that he conspired against the country and its sovereignty.”

Pakistan

Imtiaz Ali is a Karachi-based reporter for Dawn with over 25 years of experience in the field. His reporting portfolio encompasses crime, politics, and the provincial legislature, alongside coverage of the courts, government affairs, and the health sector.

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M.Saeed

Oct 03, 2015 01:15am

Sedition of this nature invites action under clause 6 of the constitution. No mercy for him.

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Mr. President

Oct 03, 2015 01:40am

One by one, they will all go down. Thanks to the security establishment.

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Irshad Khan

Oct 03, 2015 01:48am

I wonder if money laundering and massive corruption case will be registered against Nawaz Sharif , Shahbaz Sharif and Ishaq Dar if I go to Islamabad Police . I am sure case will not be registered because Police will do only what administration and rulers wants them to do. It is tragic and sad that Police and even Courts are being used by Government in power for reprisal and to punish the opponents.

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Kamal Pasha

Oct 03, 2015 02:05am

Wasim Akhtar will ask the court for permission to go overseas as he is a heart patient.

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imran

Oct 03, 2015 02:11am

Police works well .

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ashar

Oct 03, 2015 02:14am

isn't it childish approach, or police is carrying different plans than that of apex committee.

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Cyrus

Oct 03, 2015 02:18am

Your country is dying. The Rangers are trying to save it for you.

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khan

Oct 03, 2015 02:19am

Thank God, atleast someone took this overdue step.

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ratan mia

Oct 03, 2015 02:29am

@Cyrus -Totally Agreed bro.

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Dandy

Oct 03, 2015 02:45am

Superb....

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AXH

Oct 03, 2015 02:45am

He should have been sent to Jail a long time ago. He has murder cases registered against but because of MQM's control in KHI, he has been roaming free.

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Oct 03, 2015 03:29am

If the operation is just against MQM and to eliminate its presence from Pakistan, that could be done easily. But who will look after PPP, PML-N, JAmatis , Lal Masjid ( and mulana Aziz son was just set free on Rs 25k assurity ) I think crack down should be equal and justified. Though I was waiting from many year for this crackdown but on MQM and all.....

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NeutraView

Oct 03, 2015 03:36am

@Cyrus The Rangers are us.

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Kazi

Oct 03, 2015 03:45am

He will be in dubai to London. Our Fia was actually made for this.

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Khan- Pakistani

Oct 03, 2015 04:05am

Another attempt to harass and threaten MQM leadership. Fake and senseless FIR are waste of people money and court's time.

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Nasir

Oct 03, 2015 04:44am

@KZ I agree. Pakistan in fact is down soon. They are buying Chinese military hardware which is pure junk and not worth use in fighitng while India is buying American hardware. They are also really dishonest in Pak military. So when they discirminate as a nation as far as their military is concerned this will happen.

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Waqar

Oct 03, 2015 04:57am

About time.

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Sab Se Pehle Pakistan

Oct 03, 2015 05:07am

This is the limit of injustice. What has he done? What is going on? Urdu speaking people urban sindh has no rights? Are they not allowed to breathe freely? Wasim Akhter has done absolutely nothing to face these charges. I feel sorry for helpless middle class MQM workers and leaders.

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Azhar

Oct 03, 2015 05:11am

@KZ , agreed

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Haque Parast

Oct 03, 2015 05:25am

Fake case and political victimization continues. ...

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UnshacklePakistan

Oct 03, 2015 05:47am

Booking for violence against others is one thing. Booking for stating one disagrees with the creation of state or doesn't want it to exist is a non-violent personal freedom of speech matter. Even if other states have this sedition act it would be advisable and preferable to allow opinions that are not what we might want to hear. A state isn't a living entity. It's the people who are alive. Let those who are alive have their say in peace.

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Mpuri

Oct 03, 2015 05:59am

@Mr. President all because they are muhajirs

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Sab Se Pehle Pakistan

Oct 03, 2015 06:20am

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Iqbal

Oct 03, 2015 06:22am

Irrespective of who is who, all criminals when proved charges against, must be brought to immediate justice, and that is all, across the board. If this principle is followed in true letter and spirit the mess be cleaned sooner than one can think of.

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Malveros

Oct 03, 2015 06:56am

First of all the Courts and Rangers should investigate how Waseem Akhtar got his ill-gotten wealth. When previously questioned he always says that he did business in Saudi. What kind of business ?

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M Jamal

Oct 03, 2015 07:06am

If you are a commoner and ask for your rights,equality, justice, truth, localisation, ownership, merit, decentralisation and good governance the police and state machinery will register a case against you for sedition and terror charges.Whereas the powerful are free to do anything in this country.This country will only progress when there is real accountability.

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John

Oct 03, 2015 07:11am

NPML N and PPP are failures we want martial law to eradicate all menace...

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Syed Ahmed

Oct 03, 2015 07:20am

I hold no brief for Wasim Akhtar or for any MQM, PMLN, PPP or PTI leader. The axiom in law is that everyone is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty. However, if it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it would be reasonable to presume that it is a duck. But the question which keeps arising and remains unanswered is that are the ducks of sedition, terror, corruption, etc., only centered in Karachi. Most of the banned armed religious/political groups are based in Punjab but there has been never any action against these entities. Corruption of the magnitude that has been on-going in Punjab for the past several decades and has created Billionaires in US Dollars with assets stashed overseas is itself sedition and terrorism against the State. Why is there no action in Punjab? Is the Punjab Rangers impotent? Or is it that the political leaders of Punjab are untouchables? Any further delay in action in Punjab will have disastrous consequences for Pakistan.

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Baba

Oct 03, 2015 08:55am

After registering FIR the police instead of relaxing should have arrested the accused by now and challanned.

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Kamal Zaheer

Oct 03, 2015 09:25am

I would have no problem with the charges only if trusted law enforcing agencies and judicial process of the country.

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saje

Oct 03, 2015 09:58am

Political cases only.

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Ali S

Oct 03, 2015 10:10am

I think that Rangers are needed in Karachi to control crime but such selective targeting of a genuinely popular local ethnic party will only backfire - haven't they learned anything from the 90s operation?

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Agha

Oct 03, 2015 10:13am

@Sab Se Pehle Pakistan - If he has done nothing then rest assured he will be out of this quagmire soon. Let the law take its course without playing the victim card yet again.

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What's the point?

Oct 03, 2015 10:17am

Hey. Please don't cry for middle class Urdu speaking. As they had suffered enough under MQM activities (strikes, target killing). And all law abiding Urdu and non Urdu speaking are now enjoying the peace and an harmony in the city. Please keep intensity on these criminal elements to the end. We want peacefull Karachi. Regardless of cost.

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Jahanzaib Qureshi

Oct 03, 2015 10:36am

@ratan mia Its not dying its emerging as great power just wait and watch.

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Salim

Oct 03, 2015 10:46am

Nasir ....Army is the last hope for us.

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malick

Oct 03, 2015 10:51am

Military Court trial case.

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Jhakki Zak

Oct 03, 2015 10:55am

Pakistan would break up if ethnic minorities are targeted like this. Please wake up before it's too late.

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schon

Oct 03, 2015 10:57am

@KZ dont forget dharna party whic has all same leaders by the way pmln is building pakistan

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Naxalite

Oct 03, 2015 11:27am

Great News!

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Bravo

Oct 03, 2015 11:33am

He is one of the brave, vocal and outspoken leaders in MQM. The Pakistani establishment does not want any such leaders.

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naveed

Oct 03, 2015 12:55pm

@Sab Se Pehle Pakistan agreed

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Amer

Oct 03, 2015 01:22pm

I remember him saying in a talk-show Police have killed so many MQM workers so might be police have been killed by the heirs of those so what is wrong

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Allahdino M H Kango

Oct 03, 2015 01:57pm

@Syed Ahmed Those must also be pointed out and punished

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Rashid

Oct 03, 2015 02:06pm

This is plain stupid to book Wasim Akhtar for critising Rangers and the establishment, sympathy for MQM will rise for the quashing freedom of speech. . MQM members should also file cases against Shahbaz, Imran Khan for foul mouthing the establishment. Then let's see the Insaaf.

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Rashid

Oct 03, 2015 02:10pm

@AXH And you have the proofs.

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Rashid

Oct 03, 2015 02:13pm

@M.Saeed Have you asked yourself if this is independent justice as Wasim has no corruption nor any murder charges.

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The Master

Oct 03, 2015 02:58pm

@Cyrus ...Then why do they not go after all the criminals instead of just focusing on certain elements?

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Saeed Masood

Oct 03, 2015 03:01pm

The best thing for MQM will be to join hands with the law and get all the killers and criminals in their part arrested...and clean MQM and start all over from ABC once again.

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Weirdity

Oct 03, 2015 03:28pm

@Cyrus "Your country is dying. The Rangers are trying to save it for you." ???? Perfect citizen for a police state.

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A. Ali

Oct 03, 2015 04:05pm

I am so disappointed to see that MQM until now have not disowned him.

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Bilal

Oct 03, 2015 04:33pm

Action much needed

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BOTI

Oct 03, 2015 06:21pm

why to register one or more FIR, gap of day or two. Just book entire MQM for once and all, saving papers, breaking news, etc. Any sort of tactics helping MQM, increase of silent supporters i as sure more stronger after 1992.

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Naeem Syed

Oct 04, 2015 05:15am

@Mpuri There is no Muhajirs in Pakistan. They are either Citizens or Respected elders who made great sacrifices to create Pakistan and then to come here to live,

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Aussie

Oct 05, 2015 04:23am

they are small soldiers.... we want their leader to be brought back to khi and to justice. he is sitting in UK while his men secrificing. smart leader.

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saeed

Oct 05, 2015 05:59am

@Naeem Syed By Mohajir, he means section of society who are restricted to 2% quota. People with 50% + 7.5% can say whatever they like.

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Citizen of Karachi

Oct 05, 2015 12:04pm

The first tenet of law and its keepers is that it should earn respect and trust from the citizens. The ad hoc use of law and its keepers is bringing any respect and trust to nought: however, those sitting at the back pulling these strings seem to have no disregard for the long term implications of further tarnishing the image of the key institutions like police and prosecution. This, if nothing else, is sedition.

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Arslan Rafique

Oct 05, 2015 04:44pm

@saeed absolute reply bro. They made us muhajir and now that we have made this as our strength they scoff at us.

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M Jamal

Oct 05, 2015 11:04pm

We need Local Government, local representation,Local government employees and Local elected Mayor.If you are not local you cannot solve the problem of Karachi.Though big crimes are under control but street crime,traffic mismanagement,transportation, road maintenence,water scarcity and other civic problems will again create law and problem so General Raheel Sharif must arrange for the immediate activation of the Local Governments so that the elected representatives and the Mayor could sort out the genuine problems of Karachi.

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