Threat of attacks: MQM undeterred by terror, says Sattar

Says party will not back out of elections.

KARACHI:

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) said on Friday that it will contest upcoming elections despite the threat of attacks against its supporters across the province, particularly in Karachi.

The party observed a day of mourning on Friday to lament the loss of 10 party members who were gunned down last week, only to witness the killing of four more supporters in the conflict ridden area of Lyari.

At a press conference following the killings, MQM Deputy Convener Farooq Sattar said that it was clear that the wave of attacks was intended to deter his party from contesting elections, but MQM will not back out, “even if it meant more sacrifices.”

“The four supporters who were killed today were present yesterday at the opening of our central office – and today they are dead,” said Sattar. “Instead of running the election campaign, we are picking up bodies and holding burials for our people.”

The MQM leader said raids were being conducted in 20 localities, with residential areas being combed in search of MQM activists, which was a conspiracy against the party.

“Security barriers that were put by our party have been removed. The government does not provide any safety, and yet the precautions that were taken by our own people are being removed.”

He said that killers were roaming around freely, and no arrests were being made.

“Mandate from the Mohajirs is being snatched. All this is an attempt to sabotage the MQM’s electoral process,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 20^th, 2013.