KARACHI, June 12: Police arrested on Tuesday civil rights campaigner Syed Mohammad Iqbal Kazmi, who had gone missing for two days last week and was released by his captors on condition that he left Karachi within five days.

Police said Mr Kazmi, who had recently filed petitions in the Sindh High Court on the May 12 violence against major political and government figures and the new Pemra ordinance, was an absconding accused in at least four cases of cheating.

Mrs Sadia Kazmi told Dawn that a police party raided their Korangi house at around 3am and took away her husband. “They told us that he (Mr Kazmi) was wanted in some cases,” she added.

The Station Investigation Officer (SIO) of the Darakhshan police, Inspector Munir Chandio, said Kazmi was named in FIR Numbers 150, 206 and 548, registered in 2006 against him after the cheques he had given to the complainants had been dishonoured.

He said one of the cases (FIR No. 150/2006) was lodged by Abdul Jabbar who alleged that Kazmi owed him Rs98,000 for purchasing computers. He said the complainant alleged that the accused had given him a cheque for the amount, but the cheque was dishonoured when he presented it to bank.

Inspector Chandio said the second case (FIR No. 206) was lodged by Mohammed Hanif Memon, a rent-a-car dealer, who said that he had Rs470,000 outstanding against the accused.

He said the police had already submitted the final charge sheets in the two cases, showing the accused as an absconder.

Inspector Chandio said the third case was registered by Mohammed Iqbal who alleged that Kazmi owed him Rs588,000 in a business deal. He said the complainant was also given cheques which were dishonoured.

Besides, he said, Kazmi was also an absconder in a fraud case.

He said the accused would be produced before the court on Wednesday.