Crackdown continues: Two more MQM offices demolished

KARACHI: Two more offices of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) were demolished in North Nazimabad as the authorities continued a crackdown against the party's illegal offices in Karachi on Tuesday.

With these two, so far, nearly 153 MQM offices have been razed by the authorities in the city. The police and Rangers were present when the officials of the anti-encroachment department were busy in demolishing the offices. Police officials said that the demolished offices were established illegally. Nearly 148 MQM offices remain sealed and have to be demolished in the coming days.

Earlier, the authorities had also demolished four offices of the banned Peoples Amn Committee and the farmhouse of Lyari gangster Uzair Baloch, who is presently in the custody of law-enforcing agencies.

MQM's illegal offices are being demolished across the city following the directives of Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah after MQM founding chief Altaf Hussain's provocative speech on August 22 at a hunger strike camp outside Karachi Press Club.  Apart from the sector and unit offices, MQM's headquarter Nine zero, Khursheed Memorial Hall, MPA hostel and media cell remain sealed by the Rangers.

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