KARACHI: Mutahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Saleem Shahzad was arrested at Karachi's Jinnah International Airport upon his return to Pakistan on Monday after 24 years away from the country. Shahzad, a founding member of the MQM-London, had been living in London since 1992 and announced his return on Twitter on Sunday. He returned to Pakistan on a flight from Dubai. He was taken to Gaddap police station for interrogation. In the past too senior MQM leaders were kept in the same police station for interrogation Arrest warrants were issued for Shahzad in 2016 for the 10th time by an Anti-Terrorism Court in Karachi in a case related to providing treatment and shelter to alleged terrorists. Upon Shahzad's arrival at Karachi airport, the Federal Investigation Agency contacted the police regarding the matter of his involvement in the Dr Asim case, airport sources said, after which the SSP Malir Rao Anwar confirmed that he had been taken into custody. Before departing Dubai Shahzad had said he would announce his next political move after arriving in Karachi following consultation with friends and family. He said various circles in Karachi were sending him threats of arrest but he was not afraid. "I have not committed any crime, I am not afraid of getting arrested," he said. In 2014, Shahzad had spoken about "a corrupt lobby in the Muttahida which is against ideological workers." "These elements are involved in extortion, murder, smuggling and other illegal activities," the London-based leader of the party had said. The MQM has been in the throes of a power struggle since August 2016, with the Dr Farooq Sattar-led MQM dissociating itself from party chief Altaf Hussain. His passport was confiscated by immigration officials. The Karachi Police Chief Mushtaq Mehar confirmed the arrest and later Shahzad was taken into custody by SSP Rao Anwar. Traveling on a British passport via an international airline, Shahzad landed at Karachi airport a little after 10:30AM. Sources said that his lawyers wanted a pre-arrest bail but Saleem Shahzad told them that he would first like to know how many cases were against him and then go for the bail. Shahzad was considered a close friend of late Imran Farooq, who was second in the MQM after Altaf Hussain. However after the murder of Imran Farooq, he remained associated with Altaf Hussain Shahzad was suspended from the MQM a few years ago and since then he had not taken part in the party politics. He, however, regularly attended the party events in its London Secretariat. Meanwhile MQM-Pakistan leader Khawaja Izharul Hasan said that the former MQM leader didn’t make any contact with the party. “If he comes to us then he will be welcomed otherwise it doesn’t make a difference to us,” said Izhar. He said that even if Shahzad joins the party it will not make much of a difference. “Some of our people join PSP while some are sent to join,” said Izhar, adding that his party never blamed those joining PSP. INP
