One of Karachi’s main political parties has claimed that a call for jihad against “Mohajirs” is being made from mosques in certain neighbourhoods. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) press conference came on a second day of violence when at least four more men were gunned down in drive-by shootings. Most of the victims were hit in Qasba Colony, Orangi Town, where the mosque announcements were said to have been made.
“The extremists have been making announcements from mosques in Pashto, calling for ‘jihad’ against the Mohajirs [Urdu-speaking people] in Orangi Town and Qasba Colony,” said the MQM’s Qasim Ali Raza. “The MQM will not tolerate [this] and would not hesitate to retaliate with full force against the extremists.”
Raza was flanked by Wasay Jalil of the party. The men brought up the violence that has plagued Orangi Town, Qasba Colony, Aligarh Colony and surrounding neighbourhoods.
“Not everyone who speaks Pashto is necessarily a worker of the Awami National Party (ANP) but there are a few Pashto-speaking extremists who have called for jihad against the Mohajir,” said Jalil. “The peace and tranquillity is only conditioned by the political will of parties. Every political party must play a part to keep the peace.”
During the press conference, the MQM played a video of what it described as the Qasba and Orangi mosque announcements. There was no way to independently verify their content or the place where it was recorded.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 18th, 2011.
COMMENTS (30)
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the pathans in karachi are small traders just trying to make a living . karachi is part of pakistan and every pakistani has a right to live and earn there , its not an exclusive mqm club . pathans are not talibans , talibs are not exclusive to any race , southern punjab is full of talibans too . mqm has to learn to live and let live !! the pathans are being targeted and killed for trying to earn a lvelihood in a mqm enclave , thats their only sin !!
Rubbish... Ain,t nothing real about this. if it was then news tickers would blast the channels.
Same as MQM aired a documentry on cables about 12 May that sherry Rehman,s Guards were firing on streets.
MQM and ANP both are fascist parties. But MQM has the edge that it introduces the poision of ethnicity in our city. Do they think that 9 million urdu speakers can run the city of 2.5 crore people? more than 4.5 million Pushtun are here who help the country,s economy to survive..
Its time when we all should recognize the blacksheeps and get rid of ethnicity if we want peace.
During Zia ulhaque's martial then governor jahandad khan along with ISI actively supported to bring afgans and settle dow in karachi who started grabing land illegaly .Any effort to stop this Afghan Influx by sindh administration was actively sabotaged by ISI and Jahandad Khan.Through a planning all local transport modes such as local circular railway and Karachi transport authoroity were abolished and Public transport was reduced to Mini buses ran by Afgans and Local tribal people who had no experience in dealing with urban population.This is the root cause of the problems which is further complicated by the arrivals of Talibans and all sort of mafias.Ther is no city in world where ther is no mode of government transport. Some unseen hands thawrts all efforts to establish local railways. If there is violence it effects rhe lives of every karachite irrespective of ethnicity. People in other parts of the country who enjoy misery and violence in Karacih should know If Karachi fails whole pakistan will fail
Mohajir's being targeted? MQM VS ANP (PASHTONS) MQM VS Baluchs MQM VS PPP MQM VS Punjabi's MQM VS PTI MQM VS Lawyers and Chief Justice
Is everyone else in this country killer, Taliban and only MQM has all saints?
Two last military operations against MQM in past to stop it from violence. Who are you fooling that MQM is not a gang criminals which dos not allow space to other humanities. For 10 years MQM is in power and still cry 'victimization'. This is time for another operation to wipe these criminals out.
MQM playing with the peace of the city much before the birth of these stupid Taliban & Jehadis.
Pathans and Muhajirs get along very well and thats why they are being targetted by a another hand. Muhajirs and Pathans made huge sacrifices in supporting and protecting Pakistan due to their great love for Pakistan. Their is a lot common between them: they are both loyally hardworking, they have tremendous loyalty for Pakistan and many Muhajirs are Pathan decendents and they have both faught bravely and shed blood for Pakistan's independence. They are both sincerely proud of the Pakistani nation. Now, it is obvious foreign espionage is at work and government is to be blamed for not protecting its people and borders. The civilian government simply do not have the alert mind set, is slow to react and India is smart enough to know that. The border on the Indian side was not heavily protected and sealed as it should have been. The big game was to divert the Army to the Afghan side by telling them not to worry about India and to have democracy that will make the Army less important. This was a recipe to weaken Pakistan and allow foreign secret invasion. Now, this is what is happening. After this, unfortunately, election and democracy will be one Scary word for Pakistan . . . it will mean 'Killer Bees' will be thrown at them. People, now do you understand why India wanted to get rid of Pakistan's military rule by putting pressure through the US, England and other countries that could not pick up on India,s motives and designs (India knows how to fool the West) The purpose was to eventually sabotage Pakistan with the same game it played in Bangladesh causing ethnic bloodshed and violence. Pakistani citizens have full faith in their Arm forces and know the Indian sanctioned espionage will sooner or later come to an end securing Pakistan more than ever. God Bless and protect Pakistan! Ameen!
While there are extremists in ANP there are extremists in MQM too. It's time to realize and resolve issues rather than blaming each other. Karachi belongs to Pakistan and Pakistan belongs to Pakistanis!
Why these tension starts when MQM is out of Government ?I think it is ALL mqm fault & they are using this for politics.Media is also afraid due to their target killers.