Ongoing mission: Dozen suspects arrested during raids, operations

MQM claims 15 of its workers were arrested by LEAs in last 24 hours

KARACHI: Around 15 suspects, including political workers, were taken into custody during the ongoing targeted raids in the metropolis, on Saturday.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) claimed that seven workers were apprehended by Rangers during raids on Saturday while a total of 15 workers were arrested in the past 24 hours. However the law enforcers denied any such arrests. "We have no such news about the apprehensions of MQM men," said North Nazimabad SP Faisal Noor, while the Rangers spokesperson was not available for comments when contacted.

Meanwhile, the Rangers issued an official statement on Friday night regarding the investigation report on the killing of MQM worker Muhammad Hashim. The report stated that the killing of Hashim might be the work of MQM's internal elements.

Read: Raids: Police arrest 50 suspects in two days

Hashim was found dead on August 10 near Jamshoro. The MQM called for observing a peaceful strike in the province but the party withdrew the call just hours after announcing it in a press conference, following the Rangers' assurance that the murder will be investigated. Earlier, the party had claimed that Hashim was arrested by Rangers on May 6 when he was heading home from the party headquarters, Nine Zero, and his body was found after three months of his disappearance.

Separately, an alleged target killer was apprehended during a targeted raid conducted by Rangers in Ranchore Lane. The accused was identified as Faisal alias Mama, who recently arrived in the city from Dubai and has been involved in various cases of target killings.

Meanwhile, nearly a dozen suspects, including six Afghan nationals were arrested during targeted raids in the city. An Afghan suspect, Shirin Khan, was arrested by the Kharadar police after an exchange of fire. The officials said that the exchange of fire took place when the police were busy on routine snap checking. Similarly, six other Afghan nationals were apprehended by the Model Colony police during routine raids in the area. Cases against have been registered against them.

MQM’s response

According to MQM, personnel in plainclothes arrested MQM Unit 143-N in charge Irfan Nawab, son of Nawabul Hassan, and four other workers Qurban, Muhammad Fahim, Adil Sanjrani and Mani during raids on Saturday morning at their residences.

MQM also claimed that the personnel in plainclothes arrested Unit 70 worker Ashfaq, son of Ishaq from Korangi, while Rangers arrested Unit 103 workers Tasawar and Faisal and Unit 109 worker Yasin from Shah Faisal Colony.

The party said that the men arrested by the police and the Rangers are from areas of North Nazimabad, Shah Faisal Colony and Korangi. According to the MQM, none of the arrested workers have so far been presented in the court and no information was given regarding their whereabouts.

The arrests proof that the targeted operation is being conducted only against the MQM, and its workers are being accused of false cases, the party said. It appealed to the Supreme Court to take notice of the issue of its missing workers.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 11^th, 2015.