KARACHI: The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of the Sindh police on Tuesday claimed to have arrested two men in Mirpurkhas saying they were “sent to India by Muttahida Qaumi Movement leaders for militancy training”.

“The party workers were sent for training to India under a policy of the founder of the MQM,” CTD chief Omar Shahid told a press conference at the Civil Lines police station.

“Two prominent leaders of the MQM were entrusted with sending the workers to India for training. The two men we have arrested were also sent to India for training in militancy,” he added.

He said that the held suspects were also in contact with Wasay Jalil, a former town nazim in Karachi and senior leader of the party.

“We have also recovered an arms’ cache including an anti-aircraft gun during the raid,” he said.

He said that one of the held suspects disclosed that he met senior Pak Sarzameen Party leader Anis Advocate in Tehran. “We had summoned and questioned Anis Advocate and he will be summoned again.”

The DIG said that the senior leader had been restrained from going abroad. He said a charge sheet would be filed after gathering more facts.

“Wasay Jalil has been out of the country. We will write for his arrest,” he said, adding that the CTD had also summoned senior politician and disgruntled MQM-Pakistan leader Dr Farooq Sattar for questioning.

He claimed that the Karachi police had busted a cell linked with Karachi University and the suspects were in contact with Mehmood Siddiqui.

“Mehmood Siddiqui is a former president of the APMSO, who is presently staying in India,” he said. “He has been the focal person between the Indian intelligence agency RAW and MQM. Siddiqui was also the facilitator of the held suspects,” the DIG said.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2021