KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Wednesday remanded Mohajir Qaumi Movement-Haqiqi (MQM-H) chairman Afaq Ahmed in judicial custody in two cases pertaining to allegedly instigating people to torch heavy vehicles operating in the metropolis in violation of a ban on their movement during the daytime.

Mr Ahmed was arrested from his Defence residence on Tuesday night and booked in the two cases registered at the Landhi and Awami Colony police stations.

With his hands cuffed, the MQM-H chief was brought before the administrative judge of the ATCs in Clifton in an armoured personnel carrier (APC) under tight security on Wednesday morning.

A large number of his party workers, who gathered outside the court, chanted slogans in his favour and showered him with petals.

ATC refuses to remand MQM-H chief in police custody; issues notice on his bail application

The investigating officer (IO) Saleem Ullah produced the MQM-H chief and 10 other suspects in court, seeking their police custody for further interrogation.

However, the ATC judge sought arguments on the inclusion of terrorism charges in the FIRs. In response, the prosecutor informed the court that the terrorism charge was added because vehicles were torched at the behest of the MQM-H chief and this act had caused fear and panic among people and “tanker community”.

On the other hand, defence counsel Javaid Ahmed Chhatari opposed the prosecution’s request for physical remand and moved an application seeking discharge of Mr Ahmed under Section 63 of the criminal procedure code.

He submitted that the police had apprehended his client with malafide intentions, without any cogent reasons and any direct evidence.

After hearing both sides, the court rejected the IO’s remand request and sent the MQM-H chief and 10 others to prison on judicial remand.

Hearing on bail plea tomorrow

The defence counsel moved two applications in court seeking a “better class” in prison for Mr Ahmed and his post-arrest bail.

The court allowed the application for a better-class facility and issued a notice to the prosecutor for arguments on the bail application on Friday (tomorrow).

Two cases were registered under Sections 147 (Punishment for rioting), 148 (Rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 149 (Every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 435 (Mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to cause damage to amount of one hundred rupees or (in case of agricultural produce) ten rupees), 427 (Mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees), 337-A (i) (Punishment of shajjah), 365 (Kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine person) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code read with Section 6 and 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

‘I am being punished for exposing dumper mafia’

Speaking to the media outside the courtroom, the MQM-H chief said that he was falsely implicated in the cases only because he raised the issue of alarming number of fatalities due to negligent driving.

“I am being punished for exposing those who are backing the dumper and water mafia,” he said.

Mr Ahmed said that so far, 94 people have lost their lives in accidents caused by heavy vehicles in the metropolis.

“My only effort is to expose how the government is backing the dumper mafia. That is why the PPP has implicated me in fake cases.”

Published in Dawn, February 13th, 2025