DAILY NEWS

12 FEBRUARY 1999
By A Correspondent

Sindh Govt seeks approval of Federal Govt
TWENTY FIVE TOP MUTTAHEDA LEADERS MAY
BE ARRESTED

KARACHI, Feb 12: Sindh government is reported to have sought approval of the Federal government for arrests of over 25 top leaders of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM). Among them are senators, MNAs as well as MPAs.

Reliable sources said that Sindh government's concerned authorities are undecided whether to round up those leaders or not. Many to these leaders are on parole.

The Home Department officials are of the view that arrest warrants be issued for such leaders, after Federal government's approval over 25 MQM's leaders are likely to be held.

Sources said that among such leaders are Aftab Shaikh, Deputy Convenor, MQM Co-ordination committee, Shaikh Liaquat Hussain, Kanwar Khalid Younus, Tariq Javed and Dr Farooq Sattar.

It may be noted here that so far three MPAs, viz. Wakil Jamali, Shoaib Bukhari and Afzal Anwar have been arrested. There are speculations that search is on for arrest of Qazi Khalid Ali, former education minister Sindh too.

Sources said that the Sindh Governor Moeenuddin Haider has signed a summary sent to him by the Provincial Home Department saying that under Article 228-A of the prisoners act the Chief Minister was empowered to give unlimited parole to the political prisoners.

They said that after the signatures of the Governor now the police can arrest all such political prisoners who are on parole these days without any prior intimation.