Political interference accounts for a proclaimed offender with non-bailable arrest warrants issued against him shown on national television being received by the Prime Minister, informed sources told Business Recorder. The Prime Minister needs the support of the MQM given the impending protests by the PTI as well as the PPP to pressurize the government to begin to hold those whose names have appeared in the Panama papers accountable.
Anti-Terrorist Court in Karachi has issued non-bailable arrest warrants against MQM leaders in different cases, including on heinous charges of terrorism and murder. They include: Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Khawaja Izharul Hassan, Amir Khan, Haider Abbas Rizvi, Rehan Hashmi, Khushbakht Shujaat, Nasreen Jalil and Aminul Haq. Afzal Ali Shigri, former Inspector General of Police (Sindh) told Business Recorder that when Anti-Terrorist Court issues arrest warrants against any person, it means that sufficient evidence is available with the court against the accused.
"The arrests of the accused are, however, delayed due to political interference," he said, adding the police are legally bound to arrest a person against whom the court has issued the arrest warrants. The criminal cases in our country are used for political wheeling and dealing which ultimately weakens the police and other relevant departments, he said.
Shigri said that the police take prompt action against the common man even in petty cases, but dare not go after the influential due to their connections in the power corridors. "It is tantamount to ridiculing the laws," he said, urging the government to de-politicize the police and prosecution departments to strengthen the justice system.
He gave the example of the suspension of Karachi's Malir district Senior Superintendent of Police Rao Anwar and a Station House Officer on orders of the Chief Minister Sindh after they arrested MQM opposition leader in Sindh Assembly Khawaja Izharul Hassan. "Even if the police officers had mala fide intent in arresting the MQM leader, there should have been an inquiry against them before their suspension," he said.