KARACHI: An antiterrorism court allowed on Monday Muttahida Qaumi Movement mayoral candidate Waseem Akhtar to go abroad for 20 days.

Mr Akhtar is among a number of MQM and PPP leaders who face charges of allegedly asking former minister for petroleum Dr Asim Hussain to provide treatment and shelter to alleged terrorists and gangsters at the latter’s hospitals in North Nazimabad and Clifton.

The MQM leader’s application for seeking permission from court to go abroad was opposed by Rangers, which was complainant in the case. The paramilitary force’s lawyer insisted that the suspect might not return to the country.

After hearing both sides, the ATC-II judge granted permission to the applicant, but directed him to come back within the stipulated time.

Meanwhile, police informed a judicial magistrate on Monday that they could not produce in court for lack of a security squad a suspect, Ahmed Saeed aka Bharam, said to be an activist of the MQM.

The suspect was booked in a case of the murder of a Mohajir Qaumi Movement worker. He was remanded in police custody on June 22 for five days.

Published in Dawn, June 28th, 2016