KKF moves into fire brigade office… by force or after paying Rs 25m?

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM)-backed Khidmat-e-Khalq Foundation (KKF) has moved into the fire brigade office located at the Boulton Market, Pakistan Today has learnt. It was observed that the foundation’s administration has started operating from the office after removing the fire brigade’s signboards and putting up new boards displaying the KKF’s name.
According to some sources, MQM central leader Mustafa Azizabadi’s younger brother Munir, district officer state of the now-defunct City District Government Karachi, had sold the office to the KKF for Rs 25 million during the last days of the outgoing city government.
However, other sources claimed that several men carrying weapons had recently forced entry into the fire brigade office to occupy it, and they also severely beat up Sub-officer Nadeem when he resisted the forced occupation of the office.
Nadeem suffered serious injuries and the higher authorities were informed of the incident, but no action has so far been taken in this matter because they fear political backlash, the sources added. It is pertinent to mention here that the fire brigade’s office was torched during the riots that erupted after the attack on the Ashura procession in December 2009, following which the office was partially renovated.
The office continued to function without water tanks and other facilities, but it is being used by the KKF nowadays.
One could see the foundation’s ambulances parked on the main road outside the office, whereas the fire tenders have been shifted to the Saddar fire brigade office.
The Boulton Market fire brigade office has lost all of its previous identification, and the KKF’s signboards and staff have taken over the office now.
Chief Fire Officer Saleem Ehtisham said he has no information regarding Nadeem’s incident, but he admitted that the KKF’s vehicles are being parked inside and outside the Boulton Market fire brigade office.
“Things might turn controversial if I say something about the KKF’s use of the fire brigade office. Other such organisations, like the Edhi Foundation and the Saylani Welfare Trust International, have their offices established at locations like the Civil Hospital Karachi,” Ehtisham added.
MQM Central Information Committee member Nasir Jamal said, “The KKF is involved in social work, including promoting education. The foundation has nothing to do with illegal occupation or anything of the sort.”
He said that the KKF possesses all the legal documents of all the properties under its use. “The MQM is a national political party that does not involve itself in any illegal activities,” he added.