Leaders of the Mohajir Qaumi Movement-Haqiqi were attacked by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in Landhi No 6, claimed Haqiqi Information Committee member Khalid Hameed on Saturday.
Hameed said central leaders of the Afaq Ahmed-led faction were on their way to the Karachi Press Club (KPC) with Haqiqi Vice Chairman Shamshad Khan Ghauri for a press briefing when MQM activists attacked them.
“Armed with guns, iron rods and stones, MQM activists attacked the vehicles of the Haqiqi central leaders and smashed their windows,” he added.
“Some unidentified motorcyclists tried to chase them, but the Haqiqi caravan, including Ghauri, escaped the attack and reached the KPC to hold the press conference.”
Hameed said a police party, headed by Landhi Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Mirza Majeed, arrived on the scene, but, instead of saving Haqiqi leaders or disperse the dozens of attackers, they escaped.
“Ghauri was on his way to the KPC to announce that some MQM members are joining the Haqiqi faction, but MQM activists tried to stop the caravan. The incident has exposed the inability of the police in providing security to the Haqiqi leadership,” he added.
“We have sought security for Haqiqi’s central leaders from the Rangers since the police are incapable of doing that. We have filed applications with the court and the law enforcement agencies, but the Rangers are yet to provide us security.”
Haqiqi Vice Chairman Zafar Qaimkhani condemned the attack on the central leadership and warned of dire consequences if the Haqiqi leadership is attacked again.
Qaimkhani said the Haqiqi faction is practising patience for the sake of maintaining peace in the city.
“We demand the Sindh government to rein in its coalition partner. If such an attack occurs again, the Haqiqi faction will react accordingly,” he added.
Some Haqiqi activists had been injured in Saturday’s hour-long incident and rushed to a nearby hospital, whereas the police were silent spectators before they escaped from the scene, he added.
However, the Landhi DSP rejected these claims. “Some 40 to 50 MQM activists attacked the Haqiqi leaders, but the police successfully dispersed them,” he said.
