Police release Farooq Sattar after brief detention

KARACHI: Police have released Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Pakistan leader Farooq Sattar after brief detention late Friday night in Karachi.

MQM Pakistan spokesman Ameen ul Haq had earlier said that Sattar was arrested when he was returning home after attending a wedding at the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) museum.

Police officials said personnel from the City Division had arrested the MQM leader and shifted him to the Chakiwara Police Station in a case over hate speech, sedition, and incidents of violence in Karachi on August 22 last year.

MQM Pakistan leaders later confirmed Sattar had been released and that he would soon arrive at the party office in PIB Colony.

Talking exclusively to Geo News, Sattar had confirmed that he was taken into police custody for more than an hour, adding that such treatment with a leader of political party was uncalled for.

He said that he will talk to media shortly and provide further details regarding the incident.

Sources told Geo News that Sattar is released after high-level political intervention.

On August 22 last year, MQM's workers turned to violence and surrounded the offices of media houses in the city, upon its chief’s directives.

Several anti-Pakistan slogans were chanted during the party chief's live telephonic speech. At least one person was killed in the violence that ensued after the provocative speech.

Following the speech, law enforcers had taken Sattar and MQM leader Khawaja Izharul Hasan into custody from outside Karachi Press Club.

The anti-Pakistan speeches, which had been delivered by MQM founder Altaf Hussain from London, strained relations between the Karachi-based party's self-exiled leadership in the UK and its workers and leaders in Pakistan.

The events of the day led to the party splitting into two factions — the MQM-Pakistan severing ties and distancing itself from any statement coming from the London-based leaders.

Reaction on Sattar`s detention

Sindh government has claimed that the MQM-Pakistan chief Farooq Sattar flee to avoid police arrest on Saturday.

In a statement issued by its spokesperson, it said that arrest warrants have been issued against the MQM leader hence if he doesn’t apply for bail before arrest then the police would have no option left than to arrest him.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Arif Alvi termed Sattar`s arrest as, ‘a joke’. He said that the Sindh government is not serious in any of the political matters of the country.

ANP leader Shahi Saeed in his reaction on the development said that a well-thought game is being played which will in the long run benefit Farooq Sattar.