Hard and abrasive: Altaf criticises Rangers’ role in Karachi

Likens its conduct to the Indian army’s actions in Kashmir’

KARACHI: MQM chief Altaf Hussain cast doubts on the efficacy of the Rangers operation in Karachi likening the conduct of the paramilitary force with how the Indian army treats people in the disupted Kashmir territory.

“Rangers personnel treat people in Karachi exactly how the Indian troops behave in occupied Kashmir,” he said while addressing his party’s lawmakers and workers. The paramilitary forces are behaving like a mafia in the financial hub of the country, he added.

Read: Altaf Hussain did not criticise Pakistan Army: MQM

This harsh-sounding statement came from the founding leader of the MQM a couple of hours after the Sindh Rangers’ spokesperson said in a statement that details of the raid at the party’s headquarters, Nine Zero, will be unveiled in the next few days.

On March 11, the Rangers claimed to have arrested a number of convicted, wanted and other suspects, seizing a large cache of arms and ammunition in a pre-dawn raid at Nine Zero.

However, Altaf said no criminal was arrested from there. At least 150 party workers including two chefs were taken into custody and later branded as terrorists before media.

“Rangers raided my house, my elderly sister’s house and lied about arresting criminals and confiscating Nato weapons from there,” he said.

Anwer sacked

The MQM Coordination Committee has terminated the membership of senior member Muhammad Anwer, citing his persisting health problems. Altaf has endorsed the decision of the committee.

Read: Rangers file case against MQM chief Altaf Hussain

The meeting of the coordination committee, chaired by deputy convener Nadeem Nusrat, decided unanimously that the members who are unable to perform their duties be relieved of their responsibilities and senior and active workers be admitted into the committee. Anwar, who is a senior party member, has been advised to take complete bed rest till he recuperates.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 13^th, 2015.