The violent exchange that took place between activists of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement -Pakistan and provincial law enforcement agencies should not be given an ethnic colour. This was agreed upon by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and MQM-P leader Aminul Haq who held a telephone conversation on Thursday.
The latter is also the federal minister for information technology. Expressing deep sorrow over the violence that took place during an MQM-P sit-in on the road to the Chief Minister's House on Wednesday evening, Shah said such episodes should not take place under any circumstances. "Political differences should be resolved through dialogue."
MQM-P, an opposition party, was protesting against amendments to the local government act by the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party. In the conversation between the two, it was agreed not to give an ethnic color to the incident and any statements in this regard were condemned. Consultations were held to conduct an autopsy on the bodies of any casualties from the incident so that the cause of death may be brought to light. MQM-P leader Aminul Haq expressed satisfaction over the government's response to the Tando Allahyar incident and agreed not to create such a situation in future.
The CM invited Aminul Haq to discuss the local government act to which the federal minister replied by saying he would only be able to respond after consulting his party.
During the meeting, the Sindh CM spoke to MQM -P MPA Sadaqat Hussain who was injured in the incident, and inquired about his well-being. He agreed such incidents should not take place under any circumstances. Meanwhile, the Sindh chief minister told Sadaqat Hussain that he had instructed the police to release him.
Committee formed
CM Shah has formed a committee under the provincial home secretary to probe the incident which took place during the MQM-P sit-in at the Chief Minister's House on Wednesday evening.
He made the decision after meeting IGP Mushtaq Mehar and Karachi Commissioner Iqbal Memon and talking to MQM-P leader Aminul Haq via telephone.
The IGP and the Karachi commissioner gave a detailed briefing to the CM on the incident. Expressing his displeasure and regret, the CM said that such incidents were intolerable.
Shah directed the home secretary to form a committee to probe the matter and identify the culprits so that necessary action could be taken.
Funeral prayers
The funeral prayers of MQM-P Joint organiser Aslam, who died in the chaos that ensued outside the CM House, were offered on Thursday.
A large number of important party leaders and citizens attended the funeral prayers of the MQM-P worker. On Wednesday, police baton-charged MQM-P workers and fired tear gas to disperse protesting activists outside the CM House in Karachi.
Talking to the media, former MQM leader Farooq Sattar said that their "mothers and sisters were tortured yesterday".
He added there had never been a worse time for oppressed nationalities. "If justice is not done, the lava is boiling and it will erupt." He warned of surrounding the CM House if the Sindh local government law was not withdrawn.
Read: "One dead, several injured as police baton charge MQM-P rally in Karachi"
Black day observed
A peaceful black day was observed on Thursday by MQM Pakistan in protest against police brutality and death of a party leader during a sit-in outside the Chief Minister’s House on Wednesday. Party activities remained suspended.
No untoward incident was reported in the city and business and commercial activities continued as usual.
All offices, filling stations, educational institutions, industries and factories remained open. Public transport kept plying on the roads while police and security agencies continued to patrol sensitive areas of the city.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 28th, 2022.
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