Mohajir Qaumi Movement Haqiqi (MQM-H) Chairman Afaq Ahmed on Saturday was released from Central Jail Karachi after court declared his detention under Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance (MPO) void. The MQM-H leader had been in prison since April 2004 in different cases.
Earlier, the Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday had directed the authorities to release him immediately, declaring the order of his detention under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance (MPO), as illegal. Subsequently, the Sindh Home Department issued the notification for Ahmed's release.
Thousands of party workers gathered outside the prison for warmly welcome to their leader, holding party flags and chanting slogans. He was moved in highly beefed-up security of rangers and police. Ahmed first visited Shuhada graveyard in Landhi to offer prayers for his party men and at his father grave and later went to his residence in Landhi in an armoured vehicle.
The MQM-H chief was detained twicely under the MPO by the Sindh Government. Ahmed had been charged with allegedly abducting a sub-divisional officer of the defunct Karachi Development Authority (KDA) for ransom in Korangi area in May 2001. However, he was granted bail by an anti-terrorism court in the case on November 26, 2011.
Ahmed was detained under Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) on November 29 for 30 days after he was ordered to be released by the court, as he was either granted bail or acquitted in cases against him. It is pertinent to mention here that, the Sindh High Court (SHC) had already allowed MQM-H to continue their political activities under the constitutional rights.