Yadgar-i-Shuhada yatra: MQM-London’s first Azizabad show flops

Message sent to workers from party’s high command, congratulating them for organising a ‘successful’ event

KARACHI: In a bid to show its street power, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-London on Thursday unsuccessfully tried to make their entry into Azizabad – the epicentre of the party’s politics – for the first time since the incendiary speech of party supremo Altaf Hussain on August 22.

However, a heavy contingent of Sindh Rangers and police deployed at the site prevented them from marching towards the Shaheed-i-Millat Liaquat Ali Khan Chowk, formerly known as Mukka Chowk in Azizabad. However, after holding negotiations, security personnel allowed women and some elderly leaders of the party to enter the Yadgar-i-Shuhada and offer Fateha.



The procession was led by Sathi Ishaq, who had been nominated as convener of the Rabbita Committee by MQM-London convener Nadeem Nusrat.

As the procession was about to reach the monument, security personnel guarding the site closed the gate and barred people from entering the site.



“We are here to offer Fateha at the Yadgar,” Ishaq said to the Rangers. “Why are you not letting us in? It is just a monument,” he added, asking his party workers to remain calm because they started chanting slogans more powerfully. However, he failed to convince the paramilitary force and returned dejected.

Meanwhile, a message was delivered to workers from the party’s high command, congratulating them for organising a ‘successful’ event.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 21^st, 2016.