‘We’ll campaign in areas we’ve been barred from entering’

MQM-H chairperson Afaq Ahmed says his party is weary of attacks but has still decide to campaign in risky areas.

KARACHI:

Afaq Ahmed, the chairperson of the Mohajir Qaumi Movement - Haqiqi (MQM-H) - which is contesting the elections as Mohajir Qaumi Movement-Pakistan - has vowed the party will campaign in areas where it had been barred from entering by ‘unidentified’ men.

At a press conference on Tuesday at his residence in DHA, Afaq said that MQM-H is weary of attacks but has still decided to venture into areas of the city which were the party’s strongholds before it was chased out of them.

He said on April 25, he would inaugurate the MQM-H election office at Mehmoodabad and later on the party’s activists will open offices in all constituencies of the Lines area. “The very next day we will go to Shah Faisal Colony, Natha Khan Goth and Old City areas to inaugurate our offices. We will do the same in Malir on April 27 and Sherpao Colony, Future Colony, Mansehra and Dawood Chowrangi and other parts of Landhi on April 28.

“The Nawaz league, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and the party which offers ‘Roti, Kapra aur Makan’ cannot solve the problem of Karachi’s citizens,” he said. “In order to free the city from terrorist organisations, people belonging to all ethnicities should help MQM-H ensure that peace prevails in the city.”

Afaq alleged that law enforcers had ties to a rival political party and were therefore biased. He said that law enforcers would be responsible for any deterioration of law and order when MQM-H enters some areas of the city to begin their campaigns.  He also said the party has already informed the election commission, Sindh High Court and Supreme Court about the prejudices of law enforcement agencies. “It is our constitutional right to go to our homes after 11 years.”

Published in The Express Tribune, April 24^th, 2013.