MQM’s Bhola, two others indicted in 2010 murder case of five people

Housed inside the city’s central prison, a court on Thursday indicted Abdul Rehman alias Rehman Bhola and two of his companions arrested in 2010 murder case of five people. Rehman Bhola is also a key accused in the Baldia factory fire case.

Bhola and his accomplices, however, denied the charges framed by the additional district and sessions court (West) against them. The accused pleaded not guilty. The crime was committed Rasheedabad area in the year 2010.

The court has now fixed February 9 as the next date of hearing when it will hear the statements of prosecution witnesses. Bhola and one accused are in detention, whereas another accused is on bail.

It may be mentioned here that Bhola, an activist of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), along with another activist, Zubair alias Charyaa, is also being tried in setting the Ali Enterprises on fire in the area of Baldia Town in 2010 that killed more than 250 workers of the factory. He in his confessional statement alleged that MQM leaders, including Hammad Siddiqui and Rauf Siddiqui, were behind the incident who had instigated him to set the factory on fire as the owners of the factory had refused to pay ‘bhatta’ (extortion) to the MQM. However, the party leaders denied the charges. Rauf Siddiqui and several other leaders have also been termed as accused by the Rangers’ prosecutor and the court allowed to treat Sididqui and others as a part of the case as a co-accused.

Man jailed for 22 years

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) awarded 22-year imprisonment to Salman alias Salman Mirchi, who was involved in several cases pertaining to terrorist activities. Salman was arrested in 2015 from the area of Boat Basin police after a brief encounter. He was tried for possession of illegal arms, explosive material and police encounter.

Rehan murder case

A district and sessions judge (West) ordered the arrest of an absconding police officer and then Mominabad police SHO Mumtaz Marwat who is facing the murder case of a 14-year-old by, Rehan. Another accused, Mustafa, has been declared proclaimed offender.

Rehan, son of Fida Hussain Shah, a student of grade VI, was shot dead by the firing of policemen in Quaid-e-Awam Colony on November 13 last year. Mumtaz Marwat was alleged to have directed the policemen to open fire.

The father of the deceased registered a case under FIR No 483/17 under Section 302/34 of the Pakistan Penal Code. Constable Majid, informer Tahir alias Dippo, Abdur Razzaq and Ikram Farooqui are in detention.