Sindh

‘Terrorists given a free hand to kill MQM leaders’

MQM announces May 1 as day of mourning.

Irfan Aligi April 30, 2011

KARACHI:

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) believes that most of the men targeted in the city are its leaders, workers or sympathisers.

Addressing a press conference at the Khursheed Memorial Hall on Saturday, MQM Coordination Committee deputy convenor Dr Farooq Sattar pointed out that the statistics prove that the MQM is targeted the most.“We want to convey to the ruthless killers and their patrons that, even though we are grieving the martyrdom of Liaquat Qureshi, our resolve and determination will not be broken,” said Dr Sattar.

The party mourned the loss of its former MPA Liaquat Qureshi, who was gunned down on Abul Hasan Isphahani Road on Saturday. He recalled the statement made by the former Sindh home minister, who questioned on the floor of the assembly, why no elected representatives are killed in target killing incidents. MQM MPA Raza Haider was slain shortly after such a statement, he added.

For Dr Sattar, “the manner, in which the workers and office-bearers of the party are being killed, indicates that the terrorists and criminal elements have been given a free hand in the city. The government is acting as a mere spectator”.

During the past four months, 96 leaders, workers and public representatives of the MQM have been killed. If you take the number for the year, it comes up to 200, he said. The MQM also has to question journalists, TV anchors, columnists and political leaders, who tend to implicate the party in every target killing incident. “There is a limit to our patience,” he said. He added, however, that the party plans to defeat those trying to destroy the peace of Karachi through unity and patience. The party has announced May 1 as a day of mourning. Dr Sattar appealed to the party workers across Pakistan to hoist black flags outside their offices, wear black armbands and offer prayers for Qureshi. He asked the business community, shopkeepers and transporters to observe the day as well.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 1^st, 2011.

COMMENTS (5)

Sultan Ahmed | 12 years ago | Reply many leaders deascribe many things beauty of democracy, now the question before is that whether murder on party bases or target killing is also a beauty of democracy.? Many workers of M.Q,M has been targeted to kill,perhaps this party has been insisting on impose agriculture tax so feudal lords want to finish it. but you see it would spread all corner of the country due to its views and political ideology.

Nasir Jamal | 12 years ago | Reply @Sindhi: I sympathize with the MQM and there are many like me.