NBWs for MQM leaders issued again in CM House protest case

A court once again issued non-bailable arrest warrants for several leaders of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan, including party chief Dr Farooq Sattar, over their failure to attend proceedings of the case related to a protest staged outside the Chief Minister House on June 5 last year. 

The judge directed the investigation officer (IO) to arrest the absconding accused, including Khushbakht Shujaat, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Aslam Afridi, and produce them in court on July 1. 

The court also directed the IO to present a report on the issue of declaring some 12 leaders proclaimed offenders in this case

The judge concerned had directed the IO to initiate proceedings to declare MQM leaders proclaimed offenders as they did not approached the court.

The court has now directed the IO to submit the report in this regard at the next hearing. The court of the judicial magistrate (South) had also issued show cause notice to the IO for his non-appearance before the court in March.

While Karachi Mayor and Sindh Assembly opposition leader Khawaja Izharul Hassan have been granted exemption from the appearance in the court, Mehfooz Yar Khan and Sathi Ishaq were at attendance.

The MQM leaders, who led a protest to the CM House on June 5 last year after several areas of the city were hit by a massive water shortage, are accused of creating a law and order situation during their demonstration.

All roads leading to the CM House were blocked with containers and barricades during the protest. The protestors, who had held the Sindh government responsible for the city’s water crisis, are accused of scaling containers and pushing barricades during the demonstration. The case against them was registered with the Civil Lines police station.