PM Imran warns of action against officials after MQM-P clash

Seeks report from interior ministry, Sindh chief secretary and inspector general

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday threatened of action against officials responsible for the 'violence' meted out to Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P)'s protestors outside the Chief Minister House in Karachi.

The premier's statement came a day after several people, including women and children, were injured and many taken into custody after police resorted to baton-charge and shelling on MQM-P workers protesting against the recently passed amendments to the Sindh Local Government Act of 2013.

Taking notice of the incident, Imran added that a report had been sought from the interior ministry, Sindh chief secretary and Sindh inspector general.

I have taken note of the violence used by Sindh police against MQM's peaceful protest against Sindh's LG law, & have called for a report from Interior Ministry, Sindh CS & Sindh IG. Will take necessary action against those responsible after receiving these reports.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) January 27, 2022

MQM to mark Black Day

Hours after the clash between the protestors and the police, MQM-P Convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui had announced that the party will be observing a Black Day on Thursday (today) over the brutal treatment meted out to his party workers.

A senior member of MQM-P North Karachi UC-5 joint organizer Aslam Bhai, who was injured in Wednesday’s protest, succumbed to his injuries during treatment at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre late on Wednesday evening, the MQM-P spokesman said.

Read Sindh LG Act: Opposition parties slam PPP govt over ‘black law’

Addressing the media outside the Karachi Press Cub, Siddiqui said there were reports that a year-old baby who was in his mother’s lap, died from being hit by a tear gas shell, “we pray that this news is wrong,” he said, adding that “a white double-cabin SUV was seen hauling away three of our workers Rana Ansar, Zahida and Rabia; if they are not released by night, the police station concerned will be held responsible.”

He also demanded Prime Minister Imran Khan to get the Sindh IG removed via the provincial government, “or we will surround the CM House.”

Last month, provincial lawmakers of PTI and MQM-P, led by leader of the opposition in Sindh Assembly Haleem Adil Sheikh, marched in a rally from the assembly building to the Supreme Court Karachi registry. The aim was to hold a peaceful demonstration to draw the attention of the apex court towards the alleged violation of fundamental human rights and the contravention to constitutional provisions.

They requested the chief justice of Pakistan to take up constitutional petitions against the Sindh Local government Act 2013. The petitions were filed separately by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Muttehda Qaumi Movement-Pakistan.

PTI Parliamentary leader in Sindh Assembly Bilal Abdul Gaffar, MQM-P parliamentary leader Kunwar Naveed Jamil, Muhammad Hussain and other members of the provincial assembly were holding banners and placards with slogans against the SLGA 2013.