Taliban claim responsibility for attack on MQM camp

Altaf condemns attack on camp; MQM worker succumbs to injuries

PESHAWAR: The Taliban on Saturday claimed responsibility for the attack on Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM)’s camp in Orangi Town which killed one man and wounded at least 20 people, including three MPAs.

An MQM worker, identified as Jabar, succumbed to his injuries.

Three provincial legislators were among those wounded when gunmen hurled hand grenades and opened fire on the MQM membership drive meeting in Orangi Town late Friday.

Among those injured in the attack were MQM MPAs Mohammad Hussain, Mohammad Abdullah and Saifuddin Khalid.

The injured were later shifted to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, where they were said to be out of danger.

Ehsanullah Ehsan, spokesperson for the Jamatul Ahrar faction of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, said the attack was in revenge for the arrest and killing of Taliban members in Karachi.

"We will keep on targeting MQM, Awami National Party (ANP) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in Karachi," he told AFP by telephone from an undisclosed location.

Altaf condemns attack on MQM membership camp

MQM Chief Altaf Hussain on Saturday condemned the attack on his party's membership campaign.

The injured included three Sindh Assembly members; Mohammad Hussain, Abdullah Shaikh and Saifuddin Khalid, who were injured in a cracker attack at MQM's membership campaign in Orangi Town, Karachi.

Altaf, in his statement, said outlawed organisations killed three MQM parliamentarians named Syed Raza Haider, Manzar Imam and Sajid Qureshi along with other activists in the past, adding that the party’s offices have also been attacked.

He said MQM is being targeted for raising its voice against extremism and Talibanisation.

"We were warning the previous and present-day governments, as well as security agencies, that terrorist groups are making their hideouts in Karachi. But our warnings were not taken seriously,” the MQM chief said.

“These terrorists are now targeting the police, Rangers, security agencies, liberals and members of various religious sects,” Altaf said.

Further, he said the terrorists would not have been able to make headway in Karachi if action was taken against them, adding that strict action needs to be taken against terrorists.

The MQM chief stated that the party is not afraid of terrorist attacks, and their morale cannot be brought down by such cowardly acts.

"The party's mission will continue,” he said.

Altaf also expressed his sympathies with the people wounded in the cracker attack.