Abductions and killings: MQM announces day of mourning

Party asks traders and transporters to keep their businesses shut to support day of mourning.

KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Thursday announced a day of mourning tomorrow (Friday) to protest against the abductions and killings of its workers and supporters.

Speaking during a press conference, deputy convener MQM Rabita committee Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said that their workers were either victims of targeted killings or were being attacked by those involved in the Lyari gang war.

He also claimed that security agencies and law enforcement personnel were involved in the abduction of their workers.

The committee also appealed to the traders and transporters to support their day of mourning by keeping their businesses shut and vehicles off the roads.

They said that the party had repeatedly appealed to the judiciary to take notice of these incidents, but no action had been taken, adding that they had the right to mourn when everyone was doing nothing but being a silent spectator.

The party had earlier called for a day of mourning on June 6 after three of its workers were kidnapped and killed by unidentified men.

Four MQM activists were reportedly kidnapped from Malir while on the way to their factory in Korangi Industrial Area. According to details, unidentified men intercepted their bus and took away Muhammad Farhan, 30, Mehtab, 26, Muhammad Tauseef, 24, and 23-year old Farhan Idrees. Later, bodies of three of them were found with their hands and legs tied up. The victims were shot multiple times in the head and neck.