Qamar Mansoor released on ‘humanitarian grounds’

Karachi
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Qamar Mansoor, who had been arrested by Rangers in July from party headquarters Nine Zero, was released on Wednesday after the counsel of paramilitary force submitted a report before the anti-terrorism court (ATC) concerned recommending his release on humanitarian grounds.
However, investigation into the charges against him will continue and the MQM leader will also have to appear in court whenever required.
Mansoor was placed in the preventive custody of Rangers on a 90-day remand by the anti-terrorism court on July 22.
He had been arrested with a fellow member of the MQM coordination committee, Kaif-ul-Wara, in the second pre-dawn raid on the party's headquarters Nine Zero on July 17.
On March 11, the Rangers in a massive search operation at the Nine Zero had arrested senior leader Amir Khan and a number of other activists.
After his arrest on July 17, Mansoor had been charged with arranging and facilitating hate speeches against the people of Karachi.
He was later produced in an anti-terrorism court which entertained Rangers’ request of keeping the MQM leader in their preventive custody for 90 days for interrogation.
Meanwhile Kaif-ul-Wara had been released on the assurance that he would report to Rangers after Eid-ul-Fitr.
Later, Mansoor had moved court to be granted permission to have his medical examination conducted at a private hospital. He was taken to a private hospital under strict security.
The Rangers claimed that the MQM leader was physically fit, the defence claimed otherwise and submitted medical reports to bolster their claims. The defence argued that it was not possible for Mansoor to be continuously travel to and fro between jail and hospital, requesting permission for his admission in a private hospital.
The Rangers’ counsel raised no objection to this plea and Mansoor was allowed to be admitted in the hospital, provided he bore his own expenses.

Relieved of obligations
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s coordination committee relieved ailing Qamar Mansoor of all organisational responsibilities on Wednesday on account of his mental and physical condition, following his release by the Rangers on humanitarian grounds.
The decision to relieve Mansoor from all organisational responsibilities was taken at a joint meeting of the coordination committees in London and Pakistan. The coordination committee has also requested activists and workers not to contact Mansoor for any party matters.
The decision was made after Mansoor expressed some apprehensions in his discussion with the committee.
However, according to a statement issued by the MQM’sa coordination committee, Mansoor and his family are welcome at Nine Zero any time for any sort of help and they will be attended to immediately.
The Rangers released the MQM leader on Wednesday after 49 of the total 90-day preventive detention, a day after the party’s legal aid committee moved an application raising concerns about the whereabouts of Mansoor, alleging that he had not been present in his detention cell. However, the plea was turned down due to technical reasons.
Mansoor’s detention was to expire on October 21.
Soon after his release, the MQM leader visited Nine Zero where he was awarded a warm welcome by party workers and activists.
Meanwhile, MQM chief Altaf Hussain also welcomed his released and thanked the Rangers’ officials for releasing him.
He said the sacrifices rendered by Mansoor and his family had become a part of history and no one could forget them.