In the wake of the recent sectarian killings in Karachi, the law-enforcement agencies booked former senator Faisal Raza Abidi on Sunday for possessing an illegal weapon, raided Siddique-e-Akbar Masjid near Nagan Chowrangi - the headquarters of the banned outfit Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) - and arrested its general secretary Taj Mohammad Hanfi at a nearby location, and also rounded up Shia scholar Allama Mirza Yousuf Hussain of the Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen.
Abidi, a former Pakistan People’s Party senator, was arrested by Rangers in the wee hours of Saturday at his residence in New Rizvia Society. The paramilitary force had found sophisticated weapons at his home.
Later, he was taken to an investigation unit for interrogation. No statement confirming his arrest or stating the charges against him was issued that day. However, he was formerly booked and arrested by the Sachal police on Sunday. Several other suspects from both the Sunni and Shia communities were also arrested on Saturday in connection with the sectarian killings.
Police said five sophisticated weapons including submachine guns were found at Abidi’s house. The law-enforcement agencies had sought the licences of the weapons. Abidi was unable to produce the licence of one of them. He was formerly arrested by the police and an FIR was lodged against him under Section 23 (1) (a) of the Sindh Arms Act for being in possession of a sub-machine gun without a licence.
He was later produced before the judicial magistrate (East) who granted his judicial remand till November 19.
Sources said five weapons were found at Abidi’s house and the police have decided to verify the licences from the home department and interior ministry. That process will take time and if the licences are found to be forged the FIR registered against him will be upgraded with other offences.
ASWJ leader held
The law enforcement agencies conducted a raid the ASWJ headquarters and arrested general secretary Taj Mohammad Hanfi at a nearby place. He was taken to an undisclosed destination for interrogation. Some hate literature was also found at the ASWJ headquarters during the raid.
MWM leader arrested
The law-enforcement agencies also arrested Shia scholar Allama Mirza Yousuf Hussain of the MWM and shifted him to an undisclosed location for interrogation.
On Friday, six people including three ASWJ activists and two pesh imams were killed within a span of an hour in separate gun attacks in the Central and East districts. On October 29, five members of the Shia community were gunned down at a majlis organised at a house in Nazimabad No. 4.
On Sunday night, Rangers conducted a search operation in Rizvia and Golimar during which they have rounded up some suspects and seized weapons. However, these arrests have not been confirmed by the paramilitary force.
‘Misleading pictures’
The Rangers said in a statement that some pictures posted on the social media by some miscreants showing that the sanctity of mosque, imambargahs and madrasas was violated were misleading and contrary to the facts.
A Rangers spokesperson said that the purpose of such misleading activities was aimed at creating hurdles in the way of the ongoing operation against criminals.
He pointed out that the sanctity of mosques, imambargahs, and madrasas was upheld during the information-based search regarding the presence of miscreants.
The spokesperson appealed to citizens not to pay heed to the misleading propaganda and cooperate with the Rangers in the operation against criminals and miscreants.
He also asked citizens to pass on any useful information to a nearby check-post, or contact Rangers Madadgar on its Whatsapp No. 0316-2369996, email rangers.madadgargmail.com, helpline 1101 or SMS so that the society could be cleansed of criminals.