Senior Pakistani politicians Farooq Sattar and Anis Ahmed Khan Advocate appeared before investigators belonging to the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and recorded their statements denying any links with two held suspects Islamabad claims were trained by Indian intelligence agency RAW.

Sattar is the head of MQM-Pakistan’s Organisation Restoration Committee (ORC) while Anis Advocate was a leader of the Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP), Dawn reported. “Both the leaders arrived and answered questions asked by the CTD investigators,” said DIG Omar Shahid Hamid.

He said the CTD asked Anis Advocate to appear again as the investigators needed some documents and to ask more questions.

The CTD claimed to have arrested Imran and Naeem on May 28 on suspicion they were “trained by RAW (Research and Analysis Wing)". They said the duo told investigators they had developed ties with RAW with the help of Sattar.

A senior police officer says PSP leader Anis Advocate is asked to appear again

Talking to the media after appearing before the CTD Civil Lines, Sattar said that held suspects had shown their affiliation with the MQM and given his reference, but he “rejected the links and reference the alleged suspects made about me”.

He said in the recent past a suspect had named Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, but he was not summoned or grilled in the light of the allegations made against him.

Sattar said he would not talk in detail about the CTD questioning because it might adversely affect the inquiry.