Rangers again accuse IO of tampering with evidence

Paramilitary force’s attorney tells anti-terrorism court
25 receipts have been tampered with

Karachi

A Rangers attorney told an anti-terrorism court on Saturday again that DSP Altaf Hussain, the investigation officer of the case against former federal minister and Pakistan People’s Party leader Dr Asim Hussain, was tampering with evidence to save the accused.

He alleged that the former investigation officer had played an impartial role but the existing one was tampering with important documents. 

He said 25 receipts had been tampered with. He added that 14 of these receipts were evidence of dealing with Lyari gangsters, four of them dealt with the provision of medical treatment to al-Qaeda members and nine were about the provision of treatment to Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s “terrorists”.

He said there was no sound justification for replacing the former officer with DSP Altaf Hussain. The current officer, he added, was appointed on the request of Dr Asim Hussain’s daughter.  The attorney informed the court that Rangers had challenged in the Sindh High Court the transferring of investigation to DSP Hussain.

He further alleged that the provincial government had changed the investigation officer with malafide intent.

He also mentioned that a statement recorded by the administrator of the Dr Ziauddin Hospital, Dr Yousuf Sattar, also supported the plea of Rangers that terrorists were provided treatment at the hospital owned by Dr Asim Hussain, former president Asif Ali Zardari’s close aide.

MQM leaders Waseem Akhtar and Rauf Siddiqui and PPP leader Qadir Patel, all co-accused in the case, were present in the court.  Pakistan Pasban leader Usman Moa’azam, who is under detention, was also produced before the court as a co-accused.

A leader of the Pak Sarzameen Party, Anees Qaimkhani, too attended the court along with party chief Mustafa Kamal.

Rauf Siddiqui, Waseem Akhtar, Qadir Patel and Anees Qaimkhani are presently on interim bail. The court extended their interim bail period till the next hearing. Another MQM leader, Saleem Shehzad, has been declared an absconder in the case.

The Rangers’ attorney had filed written applications against the existing investigation officer for his alleged biased role in the trial and the in-charge Maal Khana (where case properties are stored) maintaining that the two were trying to influence the case.  However, DSP Altaf Hussain rejected the claims.

Dr Asim Hussain faces two cases in different courts. In the accountability court, he is facing two corruption references, while in the ATC-II he is facing a case pertaining to the charges of facilitating and providing treatment to criminals at his hospital.

ATC jails two men

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) sentenced a man, Shairullah, to 14 years in prison after he was found guilty of possessing a hand grenade and illegal weapons.

Shairullah had been arrested on December 10, 2013, in the Landhi area and was described to be a member of a banned terrorist organisation.  Police had also seized a hand grenade and illegal weapons from his possession.  Meanwhile, an extortionist, Abdul Qadir, was sentenced to a total of 10 years in prison. 

The convict was awarded five years each for two charges, demanding extortion money and carrying an illegal weapon.  A case had been registered at Mubina Town Police Station after his arrest on July 2, 2014.