Nothing wrong in holding press talk: SSP Rao Anwaar

KARACHI: I have not done anything wrong by holding a press conference before the JIT or a court’s decision.
SSP Malir Rao Muhammad Anwaar said this in the Geo News programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath’ on Thursday. He was asked about the press conference he held after the arrest of two terrorists, who were also government servants. Interrogation revealed they were affiliated with a political party and confessed they obtained training in India. It is not fair to give political colour to the arrests and it is also not well that any political party sends its activists to India for getting training there.
He said both of the terrorists were arrested two days earlier and both confessed without any pressure. The same disclosures were conveyed in the press conference. The charge sheet of the accused, on the basis of their confessions, was submitted before the court and a 14-day remand has been obtained, he said. A JIT for them will be held then they would be challaned along with my report, he added.
Rao Anwaar said the Taliban do not go to India but the Muttahida Qaumi Movement sends its activist to India for training, which is the worst act. Rao said he had not yet revealed these facts to the security agencies. It is for the first time that such MQM activists have been arrested who said they had connections with Indian intelligence agency RAW. These evidences would be presented in the court.
Rao claimed action should be taken against me if I fail to present such evidences. Holding of a press conference before JIT or verdict of court is not wrong. All allegations against the arrested men are correct. He said it usually happens that criminals admit everything when they are caught.
He said I did not arrest Zafar Baloch or Ozair Baloch nor heard their statements then how can I declare the People’s Party as a terrorist organisation. On the other hand Zulfiqar Mirza had openly supported the gang war in Lyari.Earlier, in the beginning of the programme SSP Rao Muhammad Anwaar said he had no links with Asif Zardari and does not seek his permission to tell anything. He said Asif Zardari never interfered in my professional affairs nor he asked me to do anything wrong.
Leader of the MQM, Farooq Sattar termed Rao’s statement against his party as false and baseless. He said Rao was an officer of lower rank and maintains no status. He pointed out to his controversial statement that at one time he says the accused were arrested yesterday but the other time says he stated they were arrested two days earlier.
It is also baseless that the Muttahida always submits petitions in the courts well before they are arrested.Farooq Sattar said Rao Anwaar was bringing insult and humiliating to Sindh government. He cannot bring forth evidence that the MQM submitted petitions of its activists well before they are arrested.
The MQM leader said he had full confidence that a third person was also present during the last night meeting of Sindh chief minister and Asif Zardari. He said investigation would prove Rao is an actor and the script for his act had been written somewhere else. It is for that reason there are technical flaws in the press conference. If Rao Anwaar is an officer of Asif Zardari and has told the truth in the press conference then Asif Zardari, IG Sindh and the chief minister should own whatever he has said.
Farooq Sattar said we are sure the script was written in the meeting held last night and there are political aims of the press conference. Farooq Sattar said the MQM is a political party and wishes the Sindh government to know what sort of officers are working in its administration. We consider that an attempt is being made to demean the MQM. He said the allegers should assess themselves first. He pointed out that blaming anyone of being enemy of country is not an ordinary act. He said Rao should be asked whose interest he is serving.