Protesting political victimisation: Chief minister assures to resolve MQM’s issues

Party's demand will be presented before PM, says federal information minister

KARACHI: To make their demands heard, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leaders held separate meetings with chief minister (CM) Murad Ali Shah and federal information minister Pervez Rashid to discuss the issue of extrajudicial killings and targeting of its party workers on Monday.

The meeting was held in the backdrop of the MQM hunger strike outside the Karachi Press Club. The opposition leader in the Sindh Assembly, Khawaja Izharul Hasan, along with party MNA Naveed Kanwar Jameel, MPA Muhammad Hussain and parliamentary leader in the Sindh Assembly Syed Sardar Ahmed met the CM and presented their demands.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) minister Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, law adviser Murtaza Wahab and information adviser Maula Bux Chandio assisted the CM.

During the meeting, MQM leaders expressed their concern for over around 100 missing persons and extra-judicial killings of their party workers and demanded to stop political victimisation and state operation against the party workers.

After the meeting, Jameel said that they presented a 20-point demand and the CM assured them he will form a committee to resolve their issues.

Hasan said that the CM is the new captain of the Karachi operation that is why MQM approached him to seek justice. "The meeting ended on a positive note. Let us see where the wind blows," he said, adding that they would continue their hunger strike until their issues are resolved.

On the other hand, the CM House spokesperson said "PPP government is against political victimisation and will not support any criminals irrespective of their party affiliation." The spokesperson, referring to the CM, said no one can take action against innocent workers of any party and criminals should be put behind bars.

Meanwhile, MQM leader Farooq Sattar held a meeting with federal information minister Parved Rashid at the Punjab House.  He told the media that he would present MQM's demands before Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. "I hope there is a breakthrough within two days," he said.

The information minister added that federal government wants peace in Karachi and would try to resolve MQM's demands.  The minister then left for Islamabad without visiting the MQM hunger strike camp.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 23^rd, 2016.