Dr Sattar claimed that MQM offices were being raided and office-bearers were being arrested without any reason. PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI:
Demanding action against the killers of its party member, Fakhrul Islam Khan, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) said the murder was part of a conspiracy to restrict its electoral and political activities and snatch its seats by force.
In a press conference on Thursday, the party claimed that instead of taking action against murderers involved in the killing of their leaders and workers, police and law enforcement agencies have launched a crackdown against the MQM.
“It seems a new state-sponsored operation is again being conducted against us in Karachi,” said MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar, while addressing a press conference along with Rabita Committee members on Thursday, following the killing of the MQM candidate for PS 47 Fakhrul Islam Khan in Hyderabad.
Dr Sattar claimed that MQM offices were being raided and office-bearers were being arrested without any reason.
The party leader also condemned the killing of a member of the literature committee of the MQM, Syed Shiraz Asghar, near Cafe Pyala in Karachi soon after the Khan’s assassination. He also condemned the killing of three city wardens in the Soldier Bazar area of Karachi and demanded the immediate arrest of the killers.
Dr Sattar said that carrying out raids on election offices of the MQM and creating fear amounted to pre-poll rigging.
When asked if the elections could be held in the present circumstances, Dr Sattar said it was the responsibility of the Election Commission of Pakistan and the caretaker government to provide a level-playing field and added that one particular party and its workers should not be pushed to the wall.
Dr Sattar appealed to President Asif Ali Zardari, caretaker Prime Minister Mir Hazar Khan Khoso, Chief Election Commissioner Fakhruddin G Ebrahim, Governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ebad and caretaker chief minister of Sindh Zahid Qurban Alvi to take notice of the brutal killings of Khan and Asghar.
Member of the Co-ordination Committee Senator Mustafa Kamal said if someone believed they could ‘steal’ the elections in Karachi and Hyderabad, they were mistaken.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 12th, 2013.
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