MQM-Haqiqi chief Afaq Ahmed. PHOTO: ATHAR KHAN/EXPRESS
Addressing a press conference at the Karachi Press Club on Saturday, MQM-H Vice-Chairperson Shamshad Ghauri said that his party always discouraged criminal activities and expelled workers if they were found involved in any. He said that the police, however, was booking its workers in fake and fabricated cases and their malpractice was supporting the impression that the operation in Karachi was not against criminal elements but against Muhajirs.
Afaq comes out in support of MQM-Pakistan in PS-114
Ghauri said that the party will continue doing politics on the ethnic card until due rights are given to Muhajirs and those who criticised it should first look in their actions, as they also support ethnicities by celebrating different cultural days.
"When it comes to Muhajirs, some elements start making a fuss about it by leveling the same Research and Analysis Wing [RAW] connection allegations," said Ghauri. "Who are they to question our patriotism or give us a certificate of it? The country was made by our forefathers. We do not need someone's dictation or prove our love towards it."
'Muhajir parties should band together for the good of the community'
He mentioned the case of a student activist of the party, Waqar, who was allegedly picked up by a law enforcement agency outside the Government Monotechnic Institute and was later shown to have been arrested in a bogus drug case. "What impression would these young men have of the authorities when they are released from jail?" he questioned.
The MQM-H vice-chairperson said that the era of former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf was one of the hardest upon the party but they never made any compromises. "Come what may, we will continue doing politics and serve our community," he said.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ