MQM leader Amir Khan granted bail

Karachi
An anti-terrorism court granted bail to Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Amir Khan on Monday in the sum of Rs1 million in a case pertaining to the charges of instigating terrorism and providing shelter to criminals.
However, the court also ordered that Khan would not leave the country without its permission.
The ATC –II judge noted that the accused was being granted bail on the ground that investigation against him was carried out in a poor manner and that had persuaded the court to adopt a lenient view in his matter.
Khan, along with dozens of MQM activists, was arrested by Rangers on March 11 when in a raid at the party’s headquarters Nine Zero and its adjoining areas.
Khan was later produced before the ATC-II by Rangers who presented an apprehension order that empowered them to arrest any suspect under Section 11-EEEE of the Pakistan Protection Ordinance and detain them for 90 days for interrogation. The paramilitary force had informed a court that they had credible information about their alleged involvement in offences related to target killings and terrorism.
He was finally released by Rangers and handed over to the Azizabad police station on June 4 where a case was registered against him for allegedly providing shelter and assistance to criminals.
According to the FIR, Rangers, in the March 11 raid, had arrested 26 armed suspects including Faisal Mehmood alias Mota, who was sentenced to death by a court in absentia for the murder of journalist Wali Khan Babar; Obaid alias K2, who was wanted in many cases; and Noman alias Nomi, an absconder in the Advocate Niamat Ali Randhawa murder case.
Besides, 59 others suspects including Khan had also been arrested during the raid and placed under preventive detention, it was stated in the FIR.
It was alleged that the MQM leader and others had admitted during questioning that Khan was the in-charge of the party headquarters’ security and he, along with Minhaj Qazi, Raees Mama, Shahzad Mullah, Imran Ijaz Niazi and Naeem alias Mullah, had provided shelter to arrested criminals and been using them for terrorist activities.
A joint investigation team had recommended the registration of a case against the MQM leader and others.
He was then produced by police before the same ATC that remanded him in their custody for interrogation. After the remand period expired, he was again sent to prison on judicial remand.
His attorneys had moved an application that Khan, being an educated person, should be allowed B-class facility in prison and the plea was granted.
The court had previously heard the arguments of the attorneys for Khan and the special public prosecutor on the bail plea and then reserved the order till Monday.
In a previous hearing, the defence counsel had argued that the allegations against Khan were baseless as there was no independent witness in the case and all the prosecution witnesses placed in the charge-sheet were Rangers and police officials.
An interim charge sheet against Khan was submitted before the same court on June 23 that mentioned several detained MQM activists who are ready to testify against Khan including Ubaid alias K2, Farhan Bashir and Faisal alias Mota. There are 26 witnesses in the case.