In his petition, Anwar claimed that his suspension was illegal and demanded restoration of his service.

The Chief Minister Sindh had taken notice of Anwar’s move to arrest MQM leader Izhar, who is also opposition leader in the Sindh Assembly, without informing the House speaker.

In response, Anwar reiterated the claim in his plea that it’s necessary to inform speaker only after the arrest and not before the action.

Inspector General Sindh A.D. Khawaja had later ordered immediate release of MQM leader and his transfer to the office of DIG South.

Adviser to chief minister, Maula Bux Chandio said the SSP had been suspended for his taking an illegal step.

Izhar was later moved to Karachi police chief’s office and was released thereafter.

Earlier, the SSP Malir Rao Anwar detained MQM leader Khwaja Izhar from his residence without underlining any reason.

Anwar insisted that he arrested Izhar ‘as per law’. He maintained that the MQM leader had cases registered against him that led to his detention.

MQM reacts strongly to Izhar’s arrest

Speaking to media after the arrest, senior MQM leader Farooq Sattar said he repeatedly asked for arrest warrants from SSP Rao Anwar, but the police officer didn’t show them.

This arrest in public could not have been more humiliating. Me, on behalf of MQM-Pakistan, strongly condemn this act, he said.

Sattar said this issue was not linked with statements coming from London nor anti-Pakistan slogans, but this is a pure matter of MQM-hatred and crushing Muhajir community.

He asked police to elaborate details of suspects hiding in Izhar’s residence. “Not a single person was present at Khwaja Izhar’s home and police entered their home without lady searchers,” he rebuked.