MQM stages hunger strike against ‘political’ operation, enforced disappearances

Party to hold protest rally from Aisha Manzil to Numaish Chowrangi on August 7

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Farooq Sattar has said his party workers have acted with patience and supported the Karachi operation despite law enforcers "solely targeting his party".

He was speaking on first day of the two-day hunger strike camp at the Karachi Press Club on Thursday to protest ‘enforced disappearances, media ban on Altaf Hussain, and 'baseless' cases against party workers.

Sattar announced his party would take out a rally on August 7 from Aisha Manzil to Numaish against ‘injustices’ the MQM had been subjected to.



The senior leader alleged that actions against his party give an impression the government was not serious in establishing and maintaining peace in the city.

Scores of workers joined leaders such as Mahfooz Yar Khan, Nasreen Jalil, Shahid Pasha and Kunwar Naveed Jamil, among others.

Criticising his party’s new rival, Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP), the MQM deputy convener claimed it was an open secret who was working on ‘establishment’s agenda’.

He alleged that MQM workers, leaders and parliamentarians were being continuously blackmailed and pressurised to switch loyalties.

On the arrest of mayor-nominee of Karachi, Wasim Akhtar, Sattar said it was a pre-planned scheme, executed just before the elections were to be announced while reiterating Wasim would be the designated mayor even if he remained under custody.