Karachi shuts down over Altaf’s arrest in London

Socio-economic life in violence-hit Karachi city came to a grinding halt on Tuesday as soon as television channels reported the arrest of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM)’s self-exiled Chairman Altaf Hussain by London police for his alleged involvement in money laundering.

Fear of violence in the city forced travellers to cancel their flights as Railway authorities put outgoing trains on hold till the uncertain law and order situation cleared.

Inspector Atiq Shaikh told Pakistan Today, “Police is put on high alert by Additional IGP Karachi.”

A police spokesman said that security around foreign consulates, especially the British consulate, and the red zone has been beefed up.

The MQM leader has long been under investigation by Scotland Yard for alleged involvement in money laundering, murder of party fellow Dr Imran Farooq and for delivering hate speeches.

A large number of MQM workers gathered at party headquarters, Nine Zero, to express solidarity with their leader in exile.

Holding portraits of their leader, the teary-eyed protesters raised slogans in favour of Altaf.

Terming the situation as “difficult”, the MQM leaders initially denied reports of Hussain’s arrest as baseless but later a Rabita Committee’s statement confirmed the detention.

“It is a difficult time,” said MQM Deputy Convenor Dr Farooq Sattar.

Sattar said that the party activists should stick to the teachings of “Altaf Bhai” and keep an eye on “exploiters” in their surroundings.

He said Hussain never violated the law and would come clean out of the current crisis.

In a recent interview with a local television channel, Hussain had unveiled that the British authorities had frozen his bank accounts and also raided his house and office.

The development in London heavily affected the socio-economic activity in Karachi, where miscreants set atleast seven vehicles on fire.

An MQM spokesman said, “Those carrying out arson attacks in the city do not belong to us.”

TRANSPORT SHUTDOWN: Karachi Transport Ittehad Chairman Irshad Bukhari said that he had directed transporters to take their vehicles off the road.

“Why should we let our vehicles burn? Everything, including KSE, markets and petrol pumps has been closed. So, I also asked transporters to stay off the roads,” Bukhari told Pakistan Today.

“Are you not aware of the city’s history? It’s not a routine development,” the transporter said.

Commuters were seen searching for transport to reach a safe area.

A troubled citizen said, “Finally, I got an auto rickshaw. Now I am going home. The entire city is shut down.”

Yasmeen Kausar had to get her reservation in Air Indus Airline cancelled as her hosts in Keamari were unsure whether or not they would be able to take her to the airport safely.

According to a spokesman of Pakistan Railways, Railways authorities have put outbound trains on hold until the situation clears.

He said, “Uncertain law and order has forced us to hold all the trains scheduled for the day, we would decide our future course of action as soon as we get clearance.”

Imran Khan, who had to catch Peshawar-bound Shalimar Express, was quite unaware of his fate as a passenger. “We do not know what might happen,” said the intermediate student.

All Karachi Tajir Ittehad President Atiq Mir said that the frightened traders shut their shops down across the city as soon as the news was aired.

Estimating the one-day loss to the city businesses at Rs 3.5 billion, Mir said traders were keenly looking at the MQM Rabita Committee, whose eyes were on the decisions to be made in London.

Talking to Pakistan Today, Mir said, “It’s a strange situation. Today, business could only last for a couple of hours.”