Rangers arrest MQM Deputy Convener Shahid Pasha

KARACHI, March 21: Rangers personnel arrested Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) Rabita Committee (Coordination Committee) Deputy Convener Shahid Pasha in a raid early on Monday morning.
MQM spokesperson Wasay Jalil confirmed that Pasha was taken by Rangers into their custody during a raid at his apartment in the Gulistan-i-Jauhar area of the metropolis. The arrest was condemned by MQM’s leadership.
The arrested suspected was presented in an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) where the administrative judge was informed regarding Pasha’s preventive detention for three months.
The court also ordered the formation of a joint investigation team to probe the charges against the MQM leader.
Pasha was made deputy convener of the coordination committee a year ago, and is believed to be an important figure in MQM’s organisational structure and has held various posts with the political party. Meanwhile the Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday issued notices to DG Rangers Major General Bilal Akbar, Inspector General of police Sindh A. D. Khawaja and Sindh home secretary seeking their comments on a petition filed by the family of Shahid Pasha.
The petition stated that law-enforcement agencies personnel picked Pasha up from his Karachi residence early on Monday. However, even after the passage of several hours, he could not be located nor was his arrest made public. A two-judge bench of SHC after hearing the petition issued notices to Rangers and Sindh police, directing them to file their comments by April 11. The hearing was subsequently adjourned.-Sabah