- Rangers detain two MQM Rabita Committee members in raid on party headquarters, arrest six other MQM workers in Korangi and Malir
- Altaf Hussain denounces Nine-Zero raid, urges workers to stay united, accuses Zardari of deceiving him
- MQM’s Jalil says raid carried out without search warrant as Sattar urges civil society to raise voices against Rangers
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leaders Qamar Mansoor, Sufian Yousuf, Azeem Farooqui and MQM Rabita Committee In-charge Kaiful Wara were arrested in a raid at the party headquarters Nine-Zero in Karachi by Rangers in Friday’s early hours while six other workers were arrested in Korangi and Malir as well.
Per details, eight Rangers vehicles were used in the search operation at Nine Zero. The paramilitary personnel entered the Nine-Zero office and Khusheed Begum Memorial Hall after surrounding the area in Karachi’s Azizabad neighbourhood, a stronghold of the Altaf Hussain-led party.
MQM sources said that Azeem Farooqui and Sufian Yousuf were released after a brief interrogation. However, Mansoor and Wara have been taken to an undisclosed location for further interrogation.
‘NO SEARCH WARRANTS’:
Confirming Mansoor and Wara’s arrests, MQM’s central leader Wasay Jalil said that the raid was carried out without a search warrant. He said he was not aware of any other arrests made during the Rangers raid.
At least four MQM workers including a joint unit in-charge were arrested in Karachi area of Korangi in Friday’s wee hours.
The paramilitary personnel launched a raid in Bagh-e-Korangi and arrested joint unit in-charge Shakeel Kabootar and three other party activists. Kabootar has been shifted to an undisclosed location for interrogations.
‘HATE SPEECH’:
Another report said that two MQM workers were arrested in Malir on charges of delivering hate speeches.
Rangers Sindh Director General Major General Bilal Akbar in a tweet posted early on Friday said those detained from Nine Zero “have been arranging and facilitating hate speeches against peace of Karachi”.
ALTAF DENOUNCES:
Following the arrests, MQM chief Altaf Hussain criticised the security forces for raiding party headquarters and urged the party workers and supporters to stay united and peaceful “despite being targeted”.
While addressing party members via telephone, Hussain expressed a resolve that raids, arrests and suppression would not defeat their spirits. “Movement and struggle would continue until last breath,” he added. The party chief urged supporters living abroad to raise voices against raids, adding that MQM would also raise the issue in the United Nations.
Moreover, Hussain alleged that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari had a “deal with the army” and that he had been deceived by him.
“I supported Asif Zardari in tough times when leaders of his own PPP had ditched him. In return he [Zardari] has deceived me,” said Hussain while speaking from London to an annual assistance programme of the Khidmat-i-Khalq Foundation at the Jinnah Ground.
MQM MEN RAISING VOICE:
Furthermore, Rabita Committee’s Dr Farooq Sattar said that raids on party headquarters and other anti-party activities would bring negative results. The Rabita Committee members held a press conference at MQM headquarters Nine Zero.
Sattar urged civil society and human rights organisations to raise voices against Rangers’ raids. He said that MQM is not responsible for ills in the society. Sattar denounced registering of countless cases against MQM’s chief across the country.
On the occasion, Barrister Saif said that democracy would not function with such targeting tactics. He said that handcuffs are MQM workers’ “jewellery” and medals as these always lead to success. He also said that several women affiliated with the party have also been nominated in the cases including Khushbakht Shujaat.
Tahir Mashhadi said that such activities against the party are against the Constitution of Pakistan. The operation in Karachi was against target killer and extortionists, he added. However, he said that operation has been directed against MQM. He said that law enforcers are breaking rules themselves. He further said that few people want to separate Altaf Hussain and MQM.
