‘Defusing tensions’: Rangers DG meets MQM, rival parties separately

MQM and MQM-H refuse to disclose details of meetings, Mustafa Kamal shares details

KARACHI: To defuse tensions amongst rival political parties, Pakistan Rangers, Sindh, director-general (DG) had on Saturday separate meetings with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Mohajir Qaumi Movement - Haqiqi (MQM-H), and the Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP).

According to a Rangers press release, the Rangers DG held separate meetings with leaders of the three political parties at the Rangers headquarters. Peace in Karachi has been made possible because of the sacrifices and efforts of the citizens and the law enforcement agencies and to maintain that is a joint responsibility, which is why an air of tolerance should be promoted, stated the press release. "All three parties have vowed to play their positive part for peace in the city," said the statement.

Pak Sarzameen Party leader Mustafa Kamal said after the meeting that the paramilitary force has promised to establish a correctional facility (rehabilitation centre) for the 'people who have gone astray'. Kamal met Rangers DG Major General Bilal Akbar with another MQM dissident, Anis Kaimkhani.

"Those who have gone off track and astray should be made a part of the society again," said the former mayor, addressing a press conference at his residence to share details of their one-and-a-half-hour meeting with Akbar on Saturday.

"I told the Rangers that the operation won't be successful if people are found dead or if they go missing," he said. "When some worker dies or is arrested, [MQM chief] Altaf Hussain gains from the situation."

Meanwhile, the MQM-H spokesperson said that the party's chairperson, Afaq Ahmed, went to meet the Rangers DG. However, he refused to disclose the details of the meeting.

Similarly, sources in the MQM told The Express Tribune that a delegation of the party, comprising Amir Khan, Nasreen Jalil, Kanwar Naveed and Khawaja Izharul Hassan, went to meet the Rangers DG. They, too, refused to disclose the details of the meeting.

Sattar off to Dubai

Amid speculations of life threats, MQM's senior deputy convener Dr Farooq Sattar left for Dubai on Friday. According to party spokesperson Aminul Haque, the senior deputy convener has gone to Dubai on a private visit and will be back on Sunday. PSP leader Kamal had recently spoken of Sattar being in grave danger.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 15^th, 2016.