FAROOQ SATTAR NOT PRODUCED BEFORE COURTS DESPITE STRICT ORDER – DR IMRAN FAROOQ

London – 27 December 1999

Dr Imran Farooq, Convenor of MQM Co-ordination Committee, has severely condemned the act of present government of not presenting Dr Farooq Sattar, Member of MQM Co-ordination Committee and Former Mayor Karachi, at the Sindh High Court. He termed this an illegal and unconstitutional act. Dr Farooq Sattar’s name is neither in the list of loan defaulter nor has he ever defaulted on bank loans or ever been involved in any sort of corruption. However it is a known fact that Dr Farooq Sattar in his capacity as Mayor of Karachi has served the city and the country, in their best interest.

It should be recalled that in November 1999, the local administration and the law enforcement personnel raided the house of Dr Farooq Sattar to arrest him. During this raid, his house was ransacked and his personal assistant was severely tortured and arrested. On 26 November 1999, Dr Farooq Sattar presented himself for voluntary arrest at the Karachi Press Club. Since then, he is being kept in unlawful and illegal detention and until now, he has not been produced in any court of Pakistan. Today, on 27 December 1999, the Sindh High Court had ordered the Government to produce Dr Farooq Sattar in reply to a habeas corpus petition. Despite the strict orders of the court, the Government failed to produce Dr Farooq Sattar. More than a month has passed since the arrest of Dr Farooq Sattar and not only that the Government has not produced him before any courts but also no charges have been levelled against him. The unlawful and unconstitutional detention of Dr Farooq Sattar is tantamount to the denial of his fundamental and constitutional rights. Furthermore, non-production of Dr Farooq Sattar at the Sindh High Court today is a total disregard to the judicial system and is the slaying of judiciary.

On one hand, this barbaric treatment meted out to Dr Farooq Sattar while he is not involved in any sorts of corruption or loan default whereas on the other those, including former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who are actually involved in corruption and looting billion of rupees from the national exchequer are being provided VIP treatment.

Dr Imran Farooq demanded immediate release of Dr Farooq Sattar and an end to the prejudice and biased treatment of Mohajirs.

AFTAB AHMED SHAIKH AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE MQM CO-ORDINATION COMMITTEE AND THE MEMBERS OF MQM LEGAL AID COMMITTEE ARE WAITING OF DR. FAROOQ SATTAR IN SINDH HIGH COURT ON MONDAY MORNING.

ABDUL SATTAR FATHER OF DR. FAROOQ SATTAR STANDING IN SINDH HIGH COURT BUILDING.

ABDUL SATTAR, FATHER OF DR. FAROOQ SATTAR IS WAITING THEIR SON IN FRONT OF SINDH HIGH COURT BUILDING .

MEMBERS OF THE MQM LEGAL AID COMMITTEE AND OTHER SUPPORTERS OF THE MQM ARE IN FRONT OF SINDH HIGH COURT.

HUGE GATHERING SEEN IN SINDH HIGH COURT TO SEE THE DETAIND MEMBER OF THE MQM CO-ORDINATION COMMITTEE MONDAY MORNING.

SEN.AFTAB SHAIKH TALKING TO THE PRESS MEN IN SINDH HIGH COURT TODAY.