ATC to conduct joint hearing of cases against 26 MQM men

The anti-terrorism court hearing cases against 26 Muttahida Qaumi Movement activists including Ubaid alias K2 and Faisal alias Mota on Friday accepted their attorney’s plea for the 52 cases against them to be clubbed together and jointly heard by the court.

The 26 MQM   activists were indicted but their attorney Muhammad Jeewani moved an application asking the court to indict them under an amended charge sheet and try them jointly in the 52 cases that, he contended, were of an identical nature.

The court after hearing the arguments on Friday allowed the plea. Besides Ubaid and Faisal, the activists include Farhan Shabbir, Noman, Nadir Shah and Amir alias Amir Sarphata. They were arrested on March 11, 2015 at the MQM headquarters Nine Zero and its adjoining areas.

The paramilitary troops conducting the raids had allegedly found 124 weapons including LMGs, SMGs, M-4, G3s, repeaters and pistols.

The ATC also indicted two MQM activists Sarfraz Sittar and Masood Shah for possessing explosive material.

The two men denied the charges and pleaded not guilty. The court summoned the witnesses to record their statements against them on April 14. The cases against the two men were registered at the Awami police station.