KARACHI: An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Karachi on Friday sentenced two men associated with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) to death over the murder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) leader Zahra Shahid Hussain.
Hussain was killed on May 18, 2013, hours before polling began for the byelections of NA-250 in which the PTI’s presidential candidate Dr. Arif Alvi was elected as a member of National Assembly (MNA).
Rangers’ prosecutor Mushtaq Jehangiri told Arab News that the two men, Mohammed Rashid and Zahid Abbas, were associated with MQM’s London faction.
The ATC judge Naseem Akhtar, who handed down the verdict, said two other accused, Irfan Ahmed and Kaleem, were acquitted as the charges leveled against them were not proven.
A PTI leader hailed the court verdict. “As you sow so shall you reap,” Ali Zaidi, PTI leader and MNA from Karachi, told Arab News.
An MQM-P leader who requested anonymity told Arab News: “If someone has committed a crime, he should be punished.”
“If the families of the condemned workers believe they have been wrongly convicted, they should move the appeal to the Sindh High Court (SHC). MQM-P, however, doesn’t support any wrongdoing let alone a murder,” he said.
Jehangiri told Arab News that both convicted men enjoyed the legal support of MQM. “MQM has been using different tactics from day one. They threatened the family so to the case does not proceed,” he said, adding that after Aug. 22, it was the London group that would extend help.
The Rangers’ prosecutor said that after being repeatedly threatened, the family of the PTI leader left the country.
Imran Khan, PTI chairman, had accused the MQM chief of killing Hussain.
In other tweets, the PTI chief, now prime minister of Pakistan, said he also held the British government responsible as he had warned them about a British citizen who had issued threats to PTI workers.
PTI’s women’s leader and incumbent minister for human rights, Shireen Mazari, declared the incident an act of terror and a failure on the part of the provincial government.
“Imran Khan had requested the government take action against MQM and Altaf Hussain for issuing threatening statements and inciting violence in the country, but no action was taken,” she said.
MQM-London did not respond to Arab News.
Two MQM workers sentenced to death for murder of PTI leader
Two MQM workers sentenced to death for murder of PTI leader
- Prime Minister Imran Khan said he holds “Altaf Hussain directly responsible for the murder” as he had “openly threatened PTI workers and leaders through public broadcasts”
- Rangers’ prosecutor, Mushtaq Jehangiri, says both men, Mohammed Rashid and Zahid Abbas, were associated with Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) London faction
Pakistan to promote mineral sector at Saudi forum this month with 13 companies
- Delegation will take part in the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh from Jan. 13-15
- Petroleum minister will lead Pakistan, participate in a 90-minute country session
ISLAMABAD: Around 13 Pakistani state-owned and private companies will attend the Future Minerals Forum (FMF) in Saudi Arabia from Jan. 13 to 15, an official statement said on Friday, as the country seeks to ramp up global engagement to develop its mineral resources.
The FMF is an international conference and investment platform for the mining sector, hosted by mineral-rich countries to attract global investors, companies and governments.
Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik confirmed Pakistan’s participation in a meeting with the Saudi envoy, Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki.
Pakistan hosts one of the world’s largest copper-gold zones. The Reko Diq mine in southwestern Balochistan, with an estimated 5.9 billion tons of ore, is partly owned by Barrick Gold, which calls it one of the world’s largest underdeveloped copper-gold deposits. Its development is expected to boost Pakistan’s struggling economy.
“Upon an invitation of the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Federal Minister informed the Ambassador that Pakistan will fully participate in the upcoming Future Minerals Forum (FMF), scheduled to be held in Riyadh later this month,” Pakistan’s Press Information Department (PID) said in an official statement.
The Pakistani minister will lead his country’s delegation at the FMF and take part in a 90-minute country showcase session titled “Unleashing Potential: Accelerating Pakistan’s Mineral Revolution” along with local and foreign investors.
Pakistan will also establish a dedicated pavilion to highlight the vast potential of its rich geological landscape to the global mineral community.
The Saudi envoy welcomed Pakistan’s decision to participate in the forum and discussed enhancing bilateral cooperation in the minerals and energy sectors during the meeting.
According to the statement, he highlighted the potential for cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in the minerals and energy sectors, expressing confidence that the FMF would provide a platform to expand collaboration.
Pakistan’s mineral sector, despite its rich reserves of salt, copper, gold and coal, contributes only 3.2 percent to the country’s GDP and just 0.1 percent to global mineral exports.
However, many countries, including the United States, have shown interest in Pakistan’s underdeveloped mineral sector, particularly in copper, gold and other critical resources.
In October, Pakistan dispatched its first-ever shipment of rare earth and critical minerals to the United States, according to a Chicago-based US public relations firm’s report.
