Fresh non-bailable warrant out for Anis Qaimkhani

Judge expresses surprise at IO’s inability to trace erstwhile 
MQM leader even though he is regularly seen on TV

Karachi

An anti-terrorism court again issued a fresh non-bailable warrant for the arrest of dissident Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Anees Qaimkhani and others on Saturday while hearing a case against former federal minister Dr Asim Hussain.

The court had earlier issued non-bailable warrants against Qaimkhani, Qadir Patel, Saleem Shehzad and others on March 22.

It directed the investigation officer of the case to ensure that the absconders were arrested and produced before it.

Earlier, Investigation Officer DSP Altaf Hussain told the court that he had tried to trace Qaimkhani but could not arrest him.

He said he had visited a bungalow on Khayaban-e-Sahar in Defence where Qaimkhani was residing, but he was not there and was told that he had moved to Hyderabad. 

The officer further said he had contacted Qaimkhani on his cell phone and received a message from him that he was ready to appear before the court and had moved a bail application. 

The judge observed that Qaimkhani was regularly seen on TV, but it was surprising that the officer had failed to trace him. The officer said the Darakhshan police could help him in arresting Qaimkhani.

In the case of Pakistan People’s Party leader Qadir Patel, the officer told the court that he was abroad and would be arrested after his return.

Dr Asim Hussain, former federal minister, is facing charges of facilitating and providing treatment to terror suspects at his hospital. He was produced before ATC-II headed by Khalida Yaseen.

The counsel for Dr Hussain told the court that his client’s name was not mentioned in the application submitted by Rangers against him.

Patel’s counsel had previously informed the court that his client would arrive in Pakistan on March 29 and appear before it. 

A prosecutor representing the Rangers expressed his doubts about the legal role of the investigation officer. He alleged that the officer had ties with the accused.

The Rangers’ attorney claimed that the previous investigation officer, Rao Zulfiqar, had filed a report that clearly stated that 303 outlaws were provided medical treatment at the hospitals of Dr Hussain.

He submitted applications against the investigation officer for his “biased” role in the trial and also against the in-charge of Maalkhana (a place where case properties are stored), maintaining that the two were trying to negatively influence the case.

Dr Hussain, along with other accused, is also facing a reference before an accountability court pertaining to the charges of granting of illegal contracts to parties his choice.

Two of the accused, Ejaz Chaudrhy and Safdar Hussain, were produced before the court. Dr Hussain and other accused face charges of causing a loss of billions of rupees to the national exchequer.

The accused were provided copies of the charge sheet and other reports on the orders of the court. It is expected that the court would indict Dr Hussain and others in this reference at the next hearing.