SHC grants protective bail to MQM leader Khawaja Izhar in terror cases

Another leader, Qamar Mansoor, given interim bail in terrorism case

Karachi

The Sindh High Court on Tuesday granted protective bail to Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Khawaja Izharul Hasan in three cases relating to terrorism, sedition charges and protesting outside the Chief Minister House.

MQM leader Qamar Mansoor was also given interim bail in a case pertaining to terrorism charges

Khawaja Izharul Hasan, who is also the Sindh Assembly opposition leader, had approached the SHC for obtaining pre-arrest bail in connection of two cases registered against members of the MQM coordination committee at different police stations following MQM chief Altaf Hussain’s controversial speech against the state institutions.

Police had booked MQM leaders and office-bearers in Sachal and Malir cantonment police stations for attending a gathering of the MQM coordination committee in which MQM supremo Altaf Hussain had delivered a speech against the law enforcers and state institutions

The cases were lodged against Altaf Hussain and leaders of the MQM under conspiracy, offence against the State and anti-terrorism charges.

Complainants submitted in the FIR that they came to know that the MQM leader made a speech at a Rabita Committee’s meeting against the armed forces and sovereignty of the country which had hurt their feelings. Khawaja Izharul Hasan was also booked by the police for staging a sit-in protest outside the CM house and allegedly disturbing law and order situation during the protest.

More than 500 activists of the MQM, including party leaders, have been booked by the police for blocking roads and threatening police personnel during the sit-in demonstration outside the CM house.

The applicant’s counsel submitted that the applicant wanted to surrender before the trial court but feared his arrest. Thus, he approached the high court for obtaining protective bail so that he could appear safely before the trial courts.

The SHC’s division bench, headed by Justice Syed Mohammad Farooq Shah, without touching the merits of the cases, granted the protective pre-arrest bail to the MQM leader, which is subjected to furnishing a surety in the sum of Rs50,000 in each case.

The bail will cease to effect within 10 days as the applicant will appear before the trial court.  The court also granted interim protective bail to another MQM leader Qamar Mansoor in a case pertaining to terrorism charges.