Karachi violence: MQM calls urgent internal meeting

KARACHI:

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has summoned an urgent session of the coordination committees in Karachi and London.

The session was summoned in the backdrop of relentless bloodshed in the city, particularly in localities of Orangi Town, including Gulfamabad, Qasba Colony and the Katti Pahari area.

Criticising police and Rangers for taking no action against armed militants creating widespread harassment in violence-hit areas, an MQM statement said that armed militants “have been attacking residential premises of the citizens…while police and Rangers…avoided taking any action against the militants”.

The statement said that the committee would meet at noon on Thursday and review the escalating violence by “armed outlaws” and base its future strategy on the result of its review of the situation.

Members of the coordination committee said that the situation in violence-hit areas was so bad that people had been forced to seek shelter in safer areas, adding that armed militants were also looting at gunpoint.

Criticising law-enforcement agencies for playing the role of silent spectators, members of the coordination committee said that it amounted to leaving peaceful citizens at the mercy of armed militants.

On the other hand, provincial lawmakers of MQM have criticised the move to impose a ban on pillion riding. A joint statement said that the ban would only affect the common man.



Published in The Express Tribune, July 7^th, 2011.