Money laundering: ATC restrains FIA from arresting former MQM senator.

KARACHI -- An anti-terrorism court (ATC) restrained the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) from arresting former Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) senator Ahmed Ali till December 21. The former senator is allegedly involved in the money laundering case pertaining to Khidmat-e-Khalq Foundation (KKF). Ali and his advocate, Barrister Latif Khosa, were present at the hearing along with Investigation Officer (IO) Imam Baksh, Karachi Legal Assistant Director Nakhtiar Channa and other officers. Baksh told the court that Ali has been extending full cooperation in the investigations. He said that further investigation is needed to ascertain foreign accounts of the former senator and documents presented by Ali are being scrutinised as well. The IO requested more time from the court to obtain key evidence. The court asked Ali whether he had any complaints against FIA to which he replied that the FIA had called him on Sunday morning and questioned him for six hours. The court expressed its anger at FIA officials and remarked that Sunday is a holiday. The court gave directives that FIA officials should not call suspects on Saturday or Sunday as they are family days. Granting time to FIA officials the court restrained the arrest of Ali till December 21. According to the FIA, Ali is allegedly accused of money laundering worth millions of rupees. MQM founder and former MQM senator Babar Ghauri have been declared fugitives in the case.

Directives ignored

A special ATC bench declared the statements of police surgeon and medico-legal officer (MLO) inadmissible in the case pertaining to police encounters and illegal weapons. The court issued show cause notice to the healthy secretary on the absence of the police surgeon and the MLO. The court directed the health secretary to present himself on the next hearing on November 28 along with the police surgeon and the MLO. On November 20 the court had issued a show cause notice to the police surgeon and on November 12, the court had also issued notices to the MLO asking him to abide by the court's orders. However, both the officers ignored the court's directives and did not show up for the hearing. Cases against the accused regarding police encounter and illegal possession of weapons are registered at the Aziz Bhatti...

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