Feeling threatened: MNA Waseem Hussain fears for his life

Hussain left his house for Karachi at 6am when six unidentified men riding three motorcycles stopped outside his house

HYDERABAD: An MNA belonging to Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) talked about threats to his life and has requested police protection.

MNA Syed Waseem Hussain, elected from City taluka-based NA-220 constituency, submitted an application to the Fort police station on Saturday. He also couriered copies of the complaint to the prime minister, speaker of National Assembly, interior minister, Sindh chief minister, IG, Hyderabad DIG and Hyderabad SSP.

“Some suspicious people [who came to my residence] during my absence have been seen asking for information about me,” he wrote in the application, adding that he feels threatened by them.

On August 15, Hussain left his house to travel to Karachi at 6am when six unidentified men riding three motorcycles stopped outside his house in Fakir Ka Pirh area and inquired about him from the people nearby.

“I have been facing such threats for the past two to three years,” he told The Express Tribune. “One-and-a-half years ago, someone fired at my car, which was parked outside my office. I also registered the FIR of the incident.”

He said that even though he brought the matter in the knowledge of the police, a proper investigation has yet to begin. He also informed the police that they can identify the suspects with the help of closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from the cameras of a private bank near his residence.

Hyderabad SSP Irfan Baloch said in a text message reply, “I think there is no tangible threat existing [against the MNA]. But even then we are investigating [into the matter].”

Headquarters SP Suhai Aziz Talpur informed that the MNA’s complaint has been registered and acquisition and examination of CCTV footage is under way, she said.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 22^nd,  2016.