Flle photo of Farooq Sattar. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
ISLAMABAD: Members of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) walked out of the National assembly on Thursday to mark a protest over the arrest of several MQM workers last night, Express News reported.
MQM leader Farooq Sattar presented the list of workers who are due to be arrested, saying that the names of assembly members including himself are on the list.
He added that MQM’s demand for the army to be deployed in Karachi had been termed “a slap in the face” of democracy.
Later in a press conference he said that some of the arrested workers were patients of cancer or tuberculosis, while some were over 50 years of age.
Chaudhry Nisar replies
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said that MQM’s concerns regarding the arrests in Karachi will be addressed. He added that it will be ensured that the arrested workers are not harmed and do not go missing.
He also said that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has been in government for a short period and that they should be given more time to deal with the law and order situation in Karachi.
He said that there is a need for a targeted operation in Karachi and that the Chief Minister of Sindh Qaim Ali Shah will oversee the operation.
Background
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif took notice of the deteriorating law and order situation in Karachi on Wednesday. The notice came after MQM demanded that the army be deployed in Karachi.
MQM chief Altaf Hussain had demanded army deployment to protect the life and property of the Kutchi community in Lyari. He had clarified that the Constitution allows them to make such a demand.
Sharif decided that a special cabinet meeting will be held on September 2 or 3 in Karachi to discuss the situation in the city and determine what parties are in favour of this demand.
Earlier, major political parties in Sindh rejected MQM's demand to deploy army in Karachi to maintain law and order.
Imtiaz Shaikh of the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) had said that his party would not extend any support if the forces are moved in Karachi for law and order.
“Police officials should be appointed on merit and given full authority, otherwise no change will take place,” he said.
“It should be examined as to why the situation in Karachi reached a point where the MQM had to make this demand”, said PTI Deputy Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi. However, he did not subscribe to the demand.
Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi chief Mohammad Hussain Mehnati had said that calling the soldiers was not a solution to every problem. The provincial government should end its reconciliation policy and take action against the criminals, he said.
COMMENTS (61)
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@Aysha M: Mohtarma , that was not the only thing which I said.
I later replied to Karachiwala , but ET blocked the comment ( as always , when it shudnt )
What I said then ( the comment which was blocked ) , was how there was a second side to this coin. And how the actual people/voters of MQM had failed to change their eladership , bring someone from Pakistan.
I question the need for MQM to have a leader stationed in UK. MQM as a party has failed , much like all other big parties.
So there is nothing special about the MQM leadership , or its party. What is significant is only the fact that the people who vote for MQM are Pakistanis.
You mohtarma or Karachiwala or all other advocates of MQM , can not defend that fact that there were things very terribly wrong with MQM party and that not much has changed since then.
@Asif Butt, Brilliant! openness and independence of thought, attitude and action is what we need to develop to achieve common good
@Asif Butt: First positive and realistic comment from an MQM opponent. In your comment lies the solution of the problem: Respect MQM's mandate and look forward (all the more important after by elections under army supervisions). Thanks Butt Sahib !
MQM is crying Wolf.... What if the Army came as requested by MQM, and did the same? Would they still cry?
@Hammad: remove PTI,PPP and PML F .the remaining ml n is a good party.
Quote of the day "He also said that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has been in government for a short period and that they should be given more time to deal with the law and order situation in Karachi." Chaudry Nisar - Who is was in Govt for the last five years.
@True Karachiwala: Great job, stay the course after what MQM elected representatives do for karachites, may it be the recent rains, abbas town and garment factory carnage , to name a few, this is the least we can do for our leaders. Karachites must stay together on the same side
No restriction of Dream
According the news report, he (Chaudhriy Nisar Ali Khan) also said that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has been in government for a short period and that they should be given more time to deal with the law and order situation in Karachi.
The gentleman's memory seems to be failing him. Peoples Party has been in government for a short time, plus full five years, and with the same Chief Minister whom he wants to oversee the targeted operations.
Karachi
@Troubled: @A. Khan: no hard feeling but the supreme court is sitting in Karachi,if you have any evidence you should as a citizen approach and submit the evidence other wise you are an accessory to the crime.
I personally never like MQM. And most of that is due to the History of violence associated with their leader.
But PAST IS PAST.
We should respect democracy and recognize the power of votes.
MQM leaders might have been vigilantes , but time has changed. We should realize that the people , the public who follow and give votes to MQM are PAKISTANIS.
And we should try to understand the stimulus of MQM based on this.
That is the right way forward , constitutional and democratic.
@True Karachiwala: living in fools paradise!!
@Troubled: Not sure who is missing the point here. Allegations like guns pointed to people's head for votes is simply ludicrous, anybody making such comments make their analytical skills questionable.
Do you really think it is possible to do that for a massive time period of 3 decades and that too pointing guns to 3 million heads Talk sense please
Karachi should be cleaned up.....its best for MQM and ANP to declare their militant wings and disarm them. This will be a positive move from them.
@Namaloom Afraad: @Aysha M: Chosen representatives? Who? I prefer to cal them ‘forced representatives’.
Then you are the most lonely person on earth. even after by elections under army supervision your preference is liable to be ridiculed.
MQM is the most humble, truthful, honest, patriotic party struggling to make Jinahpoor!
@True Karachiwala: Get a break....True Karachiwala....I also am a Karachi wala....and can clearly see the target killing between mqm and anp workers. Did u forget it in the past 5 years. Why dont you answer my questions. What did MQM do for the past ten years when it ruled Karachi? Why dint they fix Police system. instead they were busy looting ppl.
@Rumormonger: MQM trying to gain back sympathies of its estranged educated masses.
They are simply trying to get Karachi free from criminals and mafias. This act will be beneficial for not only for very Karachiite but for whole country as well.
@Fahad: hahaha…..you asked for it! Here it is!
You can luagh. But Karachiites know what is happening here. This injustice will further prove MQM right.
@A. Khan: I for one will not be weeping if MQM is declared illegal and its leaders arrested
Dear you will not weep if MQM declared illegal, what how can we stop you from weeping as MQM will continue to exist, INSHA ALLAH
And this is why we (MQM) asked for army, because we know Karachi's Police is politisized by PPP. They can even dare enter the Liyari area to arrest known terrorists who have been declared absconder by courts. Their force is only useable for the powerless. BRAVO PPP.
Those who play football with human heads are protected and public representatives persecuted
@ Aysha M I am changing my party. Can I join JUI-F? Pleaseee…..
@Mubarak Khan: We would be happy to see you in JUIF. When are you joining?
MQM party leaders, workers, enthusiasts can be arrested and killed at will, MQM philosophy will grow and live on, in the hearts and minds of people.
MQM is a journey of the soul, a way of life, no trade off possible, so spare me
PTI has over 60% of their parliamentarians who have less than 3 years of association with the party, perhaps hopping parties and philosophies work for them
@Hammad: PPP, PMLN, PMLF and PTI need to work together on this.
your suggestion make me laugh. Include JI so that group of vultures may complete. PTI, JI, PML N, PPP all demanded delimitation and voters verification under army supervision, in their day dreaming of looting seats from Karachi. But when it comes to save human life, they are opposing army services. What a cruel joke with Karachiites.
Lets pray for that day. That day, if it does come, will be a start of 'new life' of Karachi, like the days before of 1986 (when birth of single major party of Karachi, took place.)
@Aysha M:
and Robert Mugabe has been continuously voted in since 1980. I'm sure Zimabaweans have also been celebrating since then.
@ A.Khan
How Karachi can be saved from criminals and gangesters where biased people like haters are there to comment so unreasonably. Shame.
I hope governments (both federal and provincial) don't embark upon any misadventure with regards to Karachi law and order situation. Thanks to 18th Amendment, federal government has not much of an operational control over Karachi affairs now, so the ball is in the court of provincial government. Provincial government hasn't much shown any concern for Karachi (atleast for the last five years). However, any operation in Karachi should be indiscriminate and be carried out by local police (and Rangers, if need be) but absolutely no Army. Army's involvement would aggravate already complex situation here, where all major parties exercise control over their constituencies by employing armed militant wings.
@Hater: {MQM is blackmailing other political parties because they know that if army steps in, then not only the militant wings of MQM, but also of JI, ANP, PPP and other religious extremist organizations will be wiped out}
Sorry I did not get your point. Isn't that what we all want. If MQM is finally prepared to risk elimination of its armed wing as long as others are also eliminated, then let's go for it.
@Aysha M: I think you are missing the point. People will always vote for whoever you want if you have a gun pointed to their heads. Do you actually believe the people of Karachi support every single MQM cause that they are willing to shut their business every time there is a call for a strike? Or do you think it's because people with guns ask the shopkeepers to close? Do you think businessmen voluntarily contribute to the MQM or is it called extortion. Before you respond to the last point, just know that I know who I am paying.
@Aysha M: We would be happy to see you in JUIF. When are you joining?
Karachi is burning for more than 10 years and no solution of the problems is with the democratic government of the past and now being lack of courage, compromising attitude, personal gains to safe their chairs.It is also truth and the politicians learned no less of the Dhakka Debacle and it was happened due to mishandling the problems of the time and later on they held the Army responsible for .
Last five years all these anit-MQM had been crying for an army operation but when MQM calls for it all these hypocrites start bashing MQM for it. Its due to you confused hypocritical minds that our nation is suffering.
@Hammad: You seem to know more than the supreme court of Pakistan
@Hammad: You are surely not a Karachite, else you wouldn't had included PPP into the list.
@Hater Do you think this is only MQM who wants to be in power ? What about PTI, PML (N), JI, JUI-F etc are they not in race ? This is to be noted that MQM is one and only representative of Karachi so its mandate be respected and due share be given for prsperity of homeland. There is no need to be prejudice for any party.
@abcd: I remember many MQM guys saying start operation from our home but just do that, now when its being done... same old theory of pushing MQM against wall, RIYASATI operation are out in the air... where to go???
@Aysha M: Chosen representatives? Who? I prefer to cal them 'forced representatives'. So MQM and ANP want that Karachi gets back to peace but none of their party workers get arrested? Dream on then
@A. Khan: Karachi will be freed from tyranny at long last.
Some form of tyranny . . . voted in continually for 3 decades, you have actually redefined the word, congratulations on your valuable contribution to English language
It is that MQM not used to live in opposition, they always have been part of govt. no matter who is in center!! These are normal things that carried out against any opposition parties in Pakistan on regular basis, get used to with it MQM.
@Aysha M: pity u, that is the best you could come up with
So you people blaiming the MQM for killing! get real! MQM's is right you cannot let people die, humanity should prevail rather than dirty politics in the name of so called democracy. Don't make statements just cause you hate someone look at the logics and question yourself by putting yourself in the shoes of those losing their lives in Karachi particularly. Think...
@Hater:
Good one lol.
MQM will be soon part of government ...
If with your arrest the peace arrrive in Karachi please let it be done.
@Hater:
Haters will be haters all their life. It is embedded in the Pak DNA, if not in agreement with anything then just start hating it. A sub-human trait, if I may.
PPP, PMLN, PMLF and PTI need to work together on this. These parties are not 'rooted' in crime in contrast to other parties in Karachi. Their existence is not dependent on crime. They need to come together to offer strong resistance to criminal gangs masquarading as political parties.
Im ashamed to see the bias here. The representatives of Karachi are being targeted for speaking against criminals and prejudiced operations. If you cannot save Karachi or listen to the representatives of Karachi on issues concerning Karachi then you have no right in the future of Karachi. Karachi will then have to decide its own faith
Karachi paindabad, Pakistan zindabad I hope ET prints this
Pls. give back us our old Karachi... no matter whatever it takes... plssss....
Why is it that whenever the government start catching people who are creating disturbances MQM is the first party to make hue and cry.
Let the operation "Clean Up" begin!
MQM trying to gain back sympathies of its estranged educated masses.
I am changing my party. Can I join JUI-F? Pleaseee.....
@Hater: I am sorry for the choice of your name, the world doent need haters neither their comments
@Hater: So when you mention sincerity, don't you think asking for elimination of all militant wings sincerity enough?
@A. Khan: Is this what you have to say after the by elections, why so much hate and prejudice. They are chosen representatives.
Is something Big is going to happen in Karachi ??????
I for one will not be weeping if MQM is declared illegal and its leaders arrested. Karachi will be freed from tyranny at long last.