KARACHI: Former federal minister Babar Ghauri returned to the country on Tuesday.

Accompanied by his wife, the former senator arrived at Karachi airport via a foreign airline from Dubai just a couple of days after securing protective bail in two cases from the Sindh High Court (SHC).

The SHC last week granted protective bail to MQM leader in two terrorism and corruption cases. The bail was granted in two cases till February 6 against surety bonds worth Rs200,000.

Mr Ghauri was arrested at the Karachi airport on June 5 last year after he returned to the country ending his seven-year self-imposed exile. He was arrested in a case pertaining to the 2016 hate speech by the MQM founder. He was later released on a bail and the same day he left Karachi for the United Arab Emirates.

A few days ago, MQM Pakistan convenor Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui when asked to comment on Mr Ghauri’s return, said he was returning to Pakistan to attend his mother who’s not well for past several weeks. He had further said that his party’s doors were open for the former leader.

Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2023

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.