MQM-H’s public gathering cancelled at eleventh hour

Afaq Ahmed says cancellation illustrates bias towards Muhajir community

KARACHI: Muhajir Qaumi Movement - Haqiqi (MQM-H) Chairperson Afaq Ahmed has said that the authorities’ alleged bias towards the Muhajir community insinuates that MQM founder Altaf Hussain's concerns about the Karachi operation were correct.

Addressing an urgent press conference on Saturday at MQM-H headquarters Baitul Hamza in Landhi, Ahmed accused the Korangi SSP of cancelling his party's public gathering on Sunday due to pressure from some certain quarters.

"We were told that the Inter-Services Intelligence and Rangers did not want it to happen," Ahmed said while quoting a conversation between MQM-H Information Secretary Khalid Hameed and the SSP. "It is sad that the names of those institutions that worked intensively to restore peace in Karachi are being used."



The authorities say that the occurrence of the public gathering might cause a law and order problem, said Ahmed, adding that it was deplorable that people from outside, for example Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Jamaat-e-Islami's Sirajul Haq, could come and hold events in the city but the residents were not allowed to.

He urged the policymakers of the country to not look at the Muhajir community through the keyhole of the MQM founder. "[Poet]Raees Amrohi, [religious leader] Molana Noorani, [former Sindh governor] Hakim Said and [nuclear scientist] Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan are the people who represent us."

The MQM-H chairperson warned that if people who discriminate against Muhajirs kept holding offices in the government then Altaf’s viewpoint will continue to gain credence. "There is a need to address the problems that lead to the making of people like Altaf."



He said that the Muhajirs were repeatedly asked to prove their allegiance to Pakistan and they were fed up of this practice now. "Injustice is being done with my community and this should stop now."

Ahmed said that he will move the Sindh High Court today (Monday) and will file a petition seeking permission to hold the public gathering. "You can allow [Pak Sarzameen Party] to block Sharae Faisal but not allow us to hold an event which wouldn’t block even a single road," he lamented.

MQM-H was due to hold a public gathering on Sunday in Landhi and formally start its plan to re-establish its headquarters. The party’s headquarters were razed in 2003 by the authorities on the pretext that it was illegally built on encroached land.