Surprise raid: Rangers detain leaders of pro-Altaf MQM faction

KARACHI: Three key leaders of the pro-Altaf Hussain faction of Muttahida Qaumi Movement were taken into custody by the paramilitary Rangers from outside the Karachi Press Club on Saturday.

MQM-London’s Interim Rabita Committee convener Prof Hasan Zafar Arif and member Kanwar Khalid Yunus gathered at the KPC, along with their supporters, to address a news conference where lawyers and social activists were expected to join the party.

However, the news conference could not take place as Prof Arif and Yunus were whisked away by the Rangers before they could step into the KPC building. Another member, Amjudullah, was taken into custody after he remained confined for four hours in the press club.

Earlier, Rangers personnel cordoned off the area around KPC, barring all from entering or leaving the area. They were also checking IDs of every person, including journalists. The law enforcers also detained a senior journalist, Niaz Khokhar, assuming he was an MQM-London worker.

The journalist, who works for a Sindhi daily, was later allowed to go when Rangers officers intervened and checked his identity. “I was released soon after they [Rangers] saw my official card,” said Khokhar.

After the arrests, the MQM-London leader Wasay Jalil tweeted that the Rangers also raided the Rabita Committee member Sathi Ishaq’s house and arrested his 13-yearr-old son and 16-year-old daughter. The Rangers also raided another member Ashraf Noor’s house and arrested his brother, he claimed.

MQM-London convener Nadeem Nusrat demanded that the leaders be released immediately. Meanwhile, Kanwar Khalid’s wife appealed that her husband was a paralytic and must be given medicines on time.

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