KARACHI, Oct 9: Former city mayor Dr. Farooq Sattar, a leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, was released on late Monday night after remaining in detention for about two years.

In a faxed message from London, MQM chief Altaf Hussain said the release of the Muttahida leader — after obtaining bail in all cases against him — was “not the result of any deal”. ”His release has proved that he was not guilty”.

The last week’s acquittal of Mr Sattar in a corruption reference, sent up for trial by the National Accountability Bureau, paved the way of his release. He is still facing trial in as many as 27 cases in five different session courts in Karachi.

Senior Muttahida leaders, including Nasreen Jalil, Aftab Ahmed Shaikh, and Kunwar Khalid Younus, received the interned party leader outside the District Jail, Malir (Landhi jail) around 11:30pm.

A party press release said the release of Mr Sattar was scheduled at 4pm as his release order and the gate pass were duly prepared. It said the release was delayed due to the intervention of “some invisible forces” and “secret hands”.

While talking to the released leader from London at Nine-Zero, Mr Hussain praised Farooq Sattar and said he had suffered the hardships for party with great patience, the press release said.