KARACHI: Mutahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Saleem Shahzad landed in hot waters as security officials detained him after he returned to Karachi ending years long self-exile, ARY News reported.
Sources informed that SSP Rao Anwar detained Shahzad at the airport on charges of several cases filed against him when he was abroad.
Soon after touching down the airport, the MQM leader was stopped from leaving the premises by immigration officials while FIA officials also grilled him for about half an hour. Later, he was detained by SSP Rao Anwar — who has a history of face-off with the MQM.
FIA personnel has also confiscated Shahzad’s passport when he was arrested.
Shahzad, via his Twitter message, had said he was returning to Pakistan on Monday morning.
In April 2016, Shahzad’s non-bailable arrest warrants were also issued by an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Dr Asim Hussain terror facilitation case.
He reached to Karachi from Dubai this morning. He is a former member of MQM’s once-powerful Rabita Committee London.
Reaching #karachi inshallah Monday morning may Allah Bless our city,province and my country Ameen
— Saleem Shahzad (@saleemshahzad6) February 5, 2017
He was among many MQM leaders who had distanced themselves with the party founder Altaf Hussain following his Aug 14, 2016’s “anti-Pakistan” speech.
A week after MQM founder Altaf Hussain speech that stirred a hornet’s nest in Pakistan, Shahzad announced to return to Pakistan with an aim to ‘strengthen’ MQM’s breakaway faction – MQM Pakistan – led by party leader Farooq Sattar.
Read: Saleem Shahzad
The MQM in 2014 had suspended Shahzad’s party’s membership, and warned all members of the party to strictly adhere to its code of conduct.
Alongside Shahzad, the warrants were also issued against Pakistan Peoples Party’s Abdul Qadir Patel and Anees Qaimkhani, who is now a leader of the Pak Sarzameen Party, in a case related to providing treatment and shelter to alleged terrorists.
