MQM parliamentarians including myself due to be arrested, claims Farooq Sattar
MQM members walk out of the National assembly over arrest of several MQM workers.
Flle photo of Farooq Sattar. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
ISLAMABAD:
Members of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) walked out of the National assembly on Thursday to mark a protest over the arrest of several MQM workers last night, Express News reported.
MQM leader Farooq Sattar presented the list of workers who are due to be arrested, saying that the names of assembly members including himself are on the list.
He added that MQM’s demand for the army to be deployed in Karachi had been termed “a slap in the face” of democracy.
Later in a press conference he said that some of the arrested workers were patients of cancer or tuberculosis, while some were over 50 years of age.
Chaudhry Nisar replies
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said that MQM’s concerns regarding the arrests in Karachi will be addressed. He added that it will be ensured that the arrested workers are not harmed and do not go missing.
He also said that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has been in government for a short period and that they should be given more time to deal with the law and order situation in Karachi.
He said that there is a need for a targeted operation in Karachi and that the Chief Minister of Sindh Qaim Ali Shah will oversee the operation.
Background
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif took notice of the deteriorating law and order situation in Karachi on Wednesday. The notice came after MQM demanded that the army be deployed in Karachi.
MQM chief Altaf Hussain had demanded army deployment to protect the life and property of the Kutchi community in Lyari. He had clarified that the Constitution allows them to make such a demand.
Sharif decided that a special cabinet meeting will be held on September 2 or 3 in Karachi to discuss the situation in the city and determine what parties are in favour of this demand.
Earlier, major political parties in Sindh rejected MQM's demand to deploy army in Karachi to maintain law and order.
Imtiaz Shaikh of the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) had said that his party would not extend any support if the forces are moved in Karachi for law and order.
“Police officials should be appointed on merit and given full authority, otherwise no change will take place,” he said.
“It should be examined as to why the situation in Karachi reached a point where the MQM had to make this demand”, said PTI Deputy Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi. However, he did not subscribe to the demand.
Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi chief Mohammad Hussain Mehnati had said that calling the soldiers was not a solution to every problem. The provincial government should end its reconciliation policy and take action against the criminals, he said.
Members of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) walked out of the National assembly on Thursday to mark a protest over the arrest of several MQM workers last night, Express News reported.
MQM leader Farooq Sattar presented the list of workers who are due to be arrested, saying that the names of assembly members including himself are on the list.
He added that MQM’s demand for the army to be deployed in Karachi had been termed “a slap in the face” of democracy.
Later in a press conference he said that some of the arrested workers were patients of cancer or tuberculosis, while some were over 50 years of age.
Chaudhry Nisar replies
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said that MQM’s concerns regarding the arrests in Karachi will be addressed. He added that it will be ensured that the arrested workers are not harmed and do not go missing.
He also said that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has been in government for a short period and that they should be given more time to deal with the law and order situation in Karachi.
He said that there is a need for a targeted operation in Karachi and that the Chief Minister of Sindh Qaim Ali Shah will oversee the operation.
Background
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif took notice of the deteriorating law and order situation in Karachi on Wednesday. The notice came after MQM demanded that the army be deployed in Karachi.
MQM chief Altaf Hussain had demanded army deployment to protect the life and property of the Kutchi community in Lyari. He had clarified that the Constitution allows them to make such a demand.
Sharif decided that a special cabinet meeting will be held on September 2 or 3 in Karachi to discuss the situation in the city and determine what parties are in favour of this demand.
Earlier, major political parties in Sindh rejected MQM's demand to deploy army in Karachi to maintain law and order.
Imtiaz Shaikh of the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) had said that his party would not extend any support if the forces are moved in Karachi for law and order.
“Police officials should be appointed on merit and given full authority, otherwise no change will take place,” he said.
“It should be examined as to why the situation in Karachi reached a point where the MQM had to make this demand”, said PTI Deputy Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi. However, he did not subscribe to the demand.
Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi chief Mohammad Hussain Mehnati had said that calling the soldiers was not a solution to every problem. The provincial government should end its reconciliation policy and take action against the criminals, he said.