Factory fires: MQM announces three days of mourning

KARACHI:

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) announced it would mark three days of mourning for the scores of people killed in factory fires in Karachi and Lahore.

In a statement issued early Wednesday morning, the party announced that it would put up black flags at MQM offices and party activists would wear black armbands as well as attend the funerals of those killed. The party clarified that businesses would remain open on its day of mourning. MQM chief Altaf Hussain and the Coordination Committee have asked the provincial governments of Sindh and Punjab to investigate what transpired and take action against those responsible for the fires. In a statement, Altaf asked the provincial governments to make this a matter of priority and to inform people of the facts within three days, otherwise the MQM would have no choice but to make its own policy to protect people’s lives.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 13^th, 2012.