MQM being targeted by Rangers: Faisal Sabzwari

MQM requests meeting with CM to discuss arrest of party leaders.


Mariam Essa September 12, 2013
MQM representative Faisal Sabzwari. PHOTO: EXPRESS

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) representative Faisal Sabzwari has said that his party has requested a meeting with Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah to discuss the arrests of former MQM MPA Nadeem Hashmi and party leader Jamal Ahmed.

Speaking during a press conference, Sabzwari said the MQM had not said anything against the Rangers’ operation before this despite the arrests of over 100 workers in the last six days.

He claimed that instead of going after criminals, the Rangers were targeting innocent members of MQM.

Hashmi was arrested by the Hyderi police in a raid on his house in North Nazimabad late Tuesday night. A few hours before his arrest, two policemen, Iqbal Arif and Mohammad Ali, were gunned down within the Hyderi police remits.

An FIR, No. 181/13, was registered under Sections 302 and 397/34 of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act. However, it is said that the police have no evidence of Hashmi’s involvement in the murders.

Hashmi was serving as the incharge of the MQM’s North Nazimabad unit. Before that, he had been elected as a Sindh Assembly member in the by-polls held following the death of MQM leader Dr Mohammad Ali Shah.

Earlier, the offices of MQM leaders Rehan Hashmi and Jamal Ahmed were raided and LCD TVs, computers and fax machines were seized.

Sabzwari said that MQM had supported the targeted operation as they believed that it would entail a political action against criminals, but this is not the case.

'Catch real criminals'

“The security forces should rough up real criminals the way they are treating MQM members and offices,” Dr Sagheer Ahmed said while addressing a press conference today.

He questioned where the security forces were when the citizens of Karachi were being killed.

The MQM leader further reiterated that his party supports armed action against criminal elements.

COMMENTS (51)

Bakhtiyar Ghazi Khan | 11 years ago | Reply

No matter what Altaf or MQM think, Karachi is not their personal property and its people are not their prisoners. Karachi is a part of Pakistan, and belongs to all Pakistanis of all ethnic groups and religions. Pashtuns, Baloch, Sindhis, and Punjabis are as much a part of Karachi as anyone else.

H Chaudhry | 11 years ago | Reply

@Aysha M

Totally agree with you on local policing, local governments and the great process they bring from the good of people. No issue at all but here is a question, "What exactly did MQM do in its last 13 years of Power" or say he last 5 years in power as trusted ally of PPP. How come no LG's were formed etc?

I hope for sake of Karachi and Lahore and for Pakistan, we get to have a real Local Government system but I think MQM leadership has no interest in it but use this to continue on the path to destroy Karachi.

Regards

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