ATC accepts three interim charge sheets against MQM hitman Raees Mama

The administrative judge of anti-terrorism courts on Saturday accepted three interim charge sheets in as many cases against a former Korangi sector in-charge of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Raeesuddin alias Raees Mama.

The cases pertain to killings of cops by opening fire at police van in Chakra Goth, Korangi, and other incidents of target killings and possession of illegal arms.

The investigation officer (IO) told the judge that the former sector in-charge along with absconding MQM Rabita Committee in-charge Hammad Siddiqui and others had killed several cops and innocent citizens in the Korangi area. The IO further told the judge that Raees Mama had confessed to his crimes before a judicial magistrate. Some eyewitnesses had also identified Raees Mama, the IO added.

The court heard that Siddiqui and four other accomplices of Raees Mama were absconding. Raees Mama is facing around 24 cases.

Most of the incidents of killings had taken place from 2011 to 2014 and the cases against Raees Mama and others were registered at Zaman Town Police Station and Korangi Industrial Area Police Station.

The judge, while accepting the interim charges sheets, directed the IO to produce the accused before the anti-terrorism court (ATC) concerned.

ATC -VII has been assigned to conduct hearings against Raees Mama, who had fled to Dubai via Iran in 2014.

He is alleged to have hidden illegal arms, hand grenades and other ammunition in the Eidgah Ground area. He claimed that he had killed cops and other citizens while following the orders of his top party leadership.

In April, police had seized illegal arms and explosive material on the pointation of Raees Mama in the Nabi Bukhsh Police Station limits. The court allowed the police to investigate and handed over the custody of Raees Mama to the Nabi Bukhsh police.

He was identified in front of a judicial magistrate of District East by two witnesses. The witnesses termed him to be a shooter. The two men told the court that Raees Mama along with around 10 other men had killed Zar Khan and injured Fazlur Rehman and Abdul Malik in Korangi Industrial Area on June 22, 2013.

Earlier, Raees Mama was identified for two times by eyewitnesses in three cases of murder and possession of illegal arms registered at Landhi Police Station.

An eyewitness identified Raees Mama and termed him the key accused in the murder of Ali Hussain in Korangi Town in 2013. Some other witnesses also identified him as the key accused involved in the killing of police officer Shah Muhammad in 2012 in the same area. Raees Mama is also facing a case pertaining to the attack on the then deputy commissioner Zubair Channa in 2014.

The MQM hitman was also identified by eyewitnesses as the key accused in cases of the murder of police officer Ejaz Hussain Shah and two police constables in Korangi Industrial Area. He was also identified as an accused in cases pertaining to sabotaging and terrorist activities within the limits of Awami Colony Police Station in 2001.

He is also the primary accused in the Chakra Goth attack on a police van that left three officials dead and 27 wounded. He was arrested in Malaysia this January after his Red Notice was issued by Interpol.

Raees Mama’s name had been added to the Exit Control List on the request of intelligence agencies in 2015. The suspect is also said to be the frontman of Hammad Siddiqui, a primary accused in the Baldia Town garment factory arson case.

Raees Mama allegedly played an important role in sectarian and ethnic target killings. He is also accused of earning millions of rupees through China-cutting in Bagh-e-Korangi in Mehran Town.