MQM’s Rauf Siddiqui gets married in Makkah

MAKKAH, Saudi Arabia: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Rauf Siddiqui, 56, has entered a marital bond at a simple gathering at the Grand Mosque in Makkah on Thursday.

Reports say that his marriage was solemnized by Saudi cleric Abdul Nawaf. Siddiqui would turn 57 on April 15.

Siddiqui is associated with the Mutahidda Qaumi Movement for over three decades and has been elected as member of Sindh Assembly thrice – first in 2002, then 2008 and 2013, respectively.

He was last elected as provincial legislator on MQM ticket in the general elections of 2013.

During his marriage ceremony in Makkah, his party associates including Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and former MPA Abdul Haseeb were also present. While family members of both the sides also took part in the event.

On Feb 15 this year, Siddiqui was indicted by the anti-terrorism court among eight others in the Baldia factory fire case. Over 250 workers were burnt alive when a multistorey garment factory was set on fire in Baldia Town in September 2012.

While in January, he was declared accused in the factory fire case by the same court.

The name of Mr Siddiqui first surfaced in the case in December 2016 when former MQM sector-in-charge Abdul Rehman, alias Bhola, alleged in his confessional statement before a judicial magistrate that the MPA, who was then provincial minister for industries and commerce, got a case registered against the owners of the factory.

Then, the suspect said, he came to know that the lawmaker and former head of MQM’s Karachi Tanzeemi Committee Hammad Siddiqui had received Rs40 million to Rs50 million from the owners in return for toning down the case against them. Afterwards, the MPA obtained pre-arrest bail.