An anti-terrorism Court (ATC) in Karachi on Wednesday rejected the police’s request for the physical custody of Muhajir Qaumi movement chairman AFAQ AHMED instead of ordering his judicial custody.
AFAQ was arrested in connection with two arson in Karachi’s Awami colony and Landhi areas, where unidentified persons reportedly set trucks on fire.
However, the Court questioned the legitimacy of the terror charges invoking in the case.
During the hearing, the judge expressed skepticism about the allegations and noted, “How and why was the terrorism clause used in this case?” He also said that if the case lacked sufficient evidence, it could be rejected directly.
The court also took a critical attitude towards political arrests and noted that imprisonment of politicians often improves their popularity.
“A gentleman is already in prison and is not controlled, now someone else is asked to go out, and he refuses to do so,” the judge noted.
AFAQ Ahmed was taken into custody on Tuesday after reports of three cargo vehicles and a water tanker that was faked in different areas of Karachi, including Sharifabad and Surjani Town. Police presented him to the court to seek physical custody, which was denied by ATC.
Carachi carriers on Tuesday launched a protest in response to a series of incidents involving heavy vehicles set on fire.
Protesters blocked major city input points, including roads leading to Port Qasim, Hub Chowki and New Sabzi Mandi, leading to disruptions in traffic, carriers have demanded improved government security measures to prevent further events.
The Ulisten followed a deadly accident earlier during the day when a motorcyclist, 30-year-old Sadiq Ahmed, was killed in a collision with a dumping truck near Musharraf Colony in Hawks Bay.
The dumping driver fled from the stage, but police have taken the vehicle in custody and are searching for the driver.
Meanwhile, two more vehicles – a water tanker and a trailer – were set on fire by unidentified individuals in separate events, raising the total number of vehicles imprisoned since the morning to four. Police have initiated investigations of fires and authorities are working to tackle the growing concerns about public security.
