Demolition drive: Two more MQM offices reduced to rubble

Nearly 124 offices razed to the ground in ongoing crackdown

KARACHI: Two more offices of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) were demolished as the crackdown against the illegal offices of the party continued in Karachi on Friday.

So far, nearly 124 offices of the MQM have been razed by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and Karachi Development Authority (KDA) in the city.

The two MQM offices - Unit 30 in Eidgah area and Unit 140 in New Karachi - were demolished on Friday. The police and Rangers provided security cover to the authorities during the demolition. Police officials said that the offices were destroyed as they were established illegally on public land.

Moreover, a total 301 MQM offices have been sealed since the crackdown against the party began. Of these, about 124 party offices have so far been demolished while the remaining 177 are still sealed.

MQM's illegal offices are being demolished across the city following the directives of Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah that were issued after MQM founder Altaf Hussain's provocative speech on August 22 at a hunger strike camp outside the Karachi Press Club. The incident resulted in small-scale riots in which the offices of two news channels were attacked in Saddar, injuring several people.

Dozens of MQM workers and leaders are in custody for their alleged involvement in the violence.

Apart from the sector and unit offices, MQM headquarters Nine Zero, Khursheed Memorial Hall, MPA hostel and media cell remained sealed by the Rangers.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 10^th, 2016.