Waseem Aftab and other members of the MQM Coordination Committee were speaking at a press conference at the Khursheed Begum Secretariat, Azizababad.
They said that during a raid in Mochko, the police found hand grenades, rocket launchers and anti-aircraft guns which indicate that there is a “conspiracy” to undermine the peace in Karachi. “This plan does not only aim to destabilise one city, but the entire country. After all, Karachi is the largest industrial city of the country,” said Aftab.
Pakistan’s economic progress largely depends upon the law and order situation in Karachi and that is why certain influential people are sponsoring the mafias for their own interests, he argued.
“Who owns the house? Who brought the weapons to Karachi? What was the purpose?” he asked. “The nation should be given answers.”
The MQM leader appreciated the efforts of the law enforcement agency officers who carried out the operation.
Lyari turmoil
Speaking about the violence during Ramazan, he claimed that innocent people were kidnapped and put in torture cells in different parts of Lyari, where they were tortured.
Earlier, Lyari “gangsters” chopped off people’s heads and stuff their bodies in gunny sacks before dumping them across the city.
“The Lyari gangs released several kidnapped people on the intervention of the Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik,” he claimed.
Aftab went on to say that whenever the law enforcement agencies start an operation in Lyari, the gangsters retaliate by attacking people with rockets and firearms.
Regarding the murders of MQM member, Mansoor Mukhtar, and his brother in PIB Colony, Aftab alleged that a Lyari “gangster”, Ahmed Ali Magsi, was responsible.
Touching on extortion, he said that criminals were openly demanding money from businessmen and citizens.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 14th, 2012.
COMMENTS (20)
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Why everything was good in Karachi and Hyderabad during the period of 2002-2007? The answere is that during that period of time things were very much in control of those who were the real stake holders of the city and they were directly involve with people but now elected representatives from the city has no power.
Karachi is a metropolitan city, there are many stake holders......but when it comes to violence only MQM is blamed? Think about it.
mqm have a mandate of about 90% of khi, they ve achieve their target and no need to support any type of violence and extortion in khi, this act is performing by non mandatory parties of khi to demoralize mqm
MQM is the only political party of Pakistan that has always raised it’s voice against terrorism and extortion mafia, and has always struggled to maintain peace in the city.
Is that not enough to open our eyes as a Pakistani,President just announce Siraiki province what about the un rest and un pleasent time in Karachi?....Knowingly all hidden powers of the country are playing this dirty game in Karachi by snatching all their basic rights to rule in Karachi...they cancelled Local body ellection just bcs they are afraid of the people of Karachi and their sincerity with the city.I must say, that is more cruelity than what happened with Bangalis.If you dont listen to ellected members of Karachi forget to dream abt prosper and united Pakistan.
MQM is the only political party of Pakistan that has ever raised it's voice against terrorism and extortion mafia, and has always struggled to maintain peace in the city.
I born in Karachi and i love my home town,it is my haven in the world. Karachi is famous due to its beauty and economic growth.70 % of Pakistan revenue generated from Karachi but anti Pakistan element like ANP,LYARI AMEN COMMITTEE (GANGSTER)and SINDHI NATIONALIST want TO DESTROY PEACE in KARACHI(ECONOMICAL HUB OF PAKISTAN)but By the grace of ALLAH swt THE BENEFICENT THE MERCIFUL and the STRUGGLE OF MQM founder and leader Mr. ALTAF HUSSAIN BHAI no one can destroy Karachi and Pakistan.
SYED ISRAR SAEED MISSISSAUGA CANADA.
Gangsters, Mafias, Cults have surronded the cosmopolitan city of Karachi…….in full strength to destabilise the economical hub of Pakistan……..Are we not human and Farzand-e-Zameen?
This is what happens when people who have the real mandate of Karachi
(MQM in this case) are not given the power to manage or control law or order situation we must go back to the old local body system pre 2008 and should do more amendments so that police would go under the mayor i am pretty confident that we wont have any issues with law & order after that
Is it really gangwar in Karachi. Why Gangwar target Urdu speaking? Is it sectarian war? Why Taliban and ANP hunting / Killing Urdu speaking? Are they united to manslaughter Urdu speaking?
Why when Benazir murdered - Only Urdu speakings were prosecuted in the streets of Karachi.
Is this the post gift of making of Pakistan to Urdu Speaking?
Are we not human and Farzand-e-Zameen?
Its a very sad situation where the Present Govt. of PPP does not seems to have a control over its own Rank & Files. Peoples who are involved in these inhumane series of events either they belong to PPP or they are working under their cover. ANP or other Sindhi, Balochi fundamentalists were on peace with Karachiates but after this Govt took power everything went in opposite direction.
Gangsters, Mafias, Cults have surronded the cosmopolitan city of Karachi.......in full strength to destabilise the economical hub of Pakistan........
These are evils that need to be stopped. Now!................
The way the quasi literate Waderas ( though some of them are the graduates from some FOREN univercities ) of Interior Sindh are dictating terms in Karachi ( remember Zulfiqar Mirzas diatribe and open support for the AMN committe ?) , we are feeling deprived of our legitimate rights .Freeloaders from all over the country , instead of grabbing their voted represtatives , migrating to Karachi .
The other day CM ,Qaim shah regulated Katchi abadis of 3,0000,000 people and handed them the "legal"douments without even thinking how these people will earn their livelihood .
Karachi has become a Maale Ghanimat .If this continues , we have all the legitimate rights to ask for a separate sooba .
Karachiites are denied their right to participate in decision-making process by delaying local bodies election. One must understand that the sense of ownership is directly linked with the sense of participation.
Dear Readers,
The lack of administration and issue of ownership is Karachi `s biggest problem. Everyone think its a foreign agenda to de-stabilize this gigantic city but in real sense, the citizen of the city are to be blamed for it also.
Democracy is not the solution for Pakistan ! Pure dictatorship like Ayub Khan`s era of 1960-65 is the band aid that the country requires right now.
Best Regards Yasir
Criminal gangs are operating in Karachi and they seem to have no fear of law. Karachi was progressing rapidly and its image as a world city was developing throughout the world. Development works being done were recognized and it seemed that Karachi had reached on the springboard for economic advancement.
Unfortunately every good effort and excellent work done by Mustafa Kamal of the MQM went down the drain due to these criminal gangs. I believe that these criminals and terrorists are being patronized in Karachi in order to contain the MQM.
There are so many bank robberies these days. Kidnapping for ransom has become so common. Lyari has been transformed into a den of criminals and gangsters who are operating their tentacles throughout the city. Extortion is the other menace that is plaguing the city. Huge amounts are being demanded from traders and businessmen who are forced to pay under the pain of death.
It has become fashionable to blame everything wrong going in Karachi on the MQM without realizing that the MQM is the worst affected party due to violence in Karachi. It is also a fact that Karachi has made tremendous progress under the able leadership of MQM representatives.
The MQM must give up all expediency and adopt a solid line of action on the law and order situation in Karachi. I believe that the demand for Mohajir Sooba should also be considered by the party in order to safeguard the rights of the Mohajirs.
A guy died in Karachi due to a heart attack. "MQM did it". Grow up haters.
Look, who is saying?