Sattar granted bail in two cases

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Farooq Sattar, who had been booked for protesting against water shortage and violating the Loudspeaker Act, approached the court for bail on Thursday.

Sattar’s nomination papers for the NA-245 constituency had on Tuesday been rejected by the Returning Officer over his failure to disclose his involvement in the two cases.

On Thursday, The District and Sessions Judge for District East, Abdullah Channa, granted Sattar interim bail in the two cases against a surety of Rs20,000 each. The court also ordered Sattar to join the investigations in both cases. The two cases against the MQM leader were registered in the Soldier Bazaar and New Town police stations respectively.

Addressing the media after being granted bail, Sattar quipped that he had reserved over 50,000 votes simply by taking ‘selfies’ in the city court.

Speaking about the reason behind the non-disclosure of cases, Sattar said he had no clue about the FIRs that were brought up before the RO. He added that now that he had been granted bail, he would challenge the decision of the returning officer (RO).

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With regard to reports of his reconciliation with the MQM-P’s Bahadurabad faction, he said he had made the decision for the party’s best interest. “I have withdrawn all my demands and have accepted all the conditions of the Bahadurabad faction.”

He added that he will decide which constituency he will ultimately contest from after discussions with other party leaders. The MQM-P leader had filed nomination papers from three Karachi constituencies, one of which was rejected by the RO.

Source: Express Tribune